🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Final This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed routines including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This article reveals the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship. View: Moment Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy. She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final. Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts. Presenters Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu performed routines including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. They also performed a football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to take to the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage. The pair performed routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney. Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up." Influencer George Clarke and Alexis Warr opted to revisit their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine. Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy". The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. The Hosts' Last Show A photo from the historic final hosting by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series. Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes. During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show. The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, compassion and sheer joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.