Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Final
This report details the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.
She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.
In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure 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 brilliant".
As usual, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning pair faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
The couple performed dances including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'.
In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a classical waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged.
A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness".
The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final.
The Hosts' Final Final
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute 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: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
