Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Final
This report details the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy.
She overcame Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed".
It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.
In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful".
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 freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed dances including a freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an 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.
But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
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 jive to 'Proud Mary'.
Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
They also did their freestyle routine to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.
Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final.
Tess and Claudia's Final Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined 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 full of feeling as they signed off.
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 fans of the show.
The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the struggles overcome 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 success."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.