Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Final

This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the glitterball trophy.

She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale.

Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".

It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.

In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant".

Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance.

The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice.

Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.

They also performed a sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.

But the winning pair faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.

The couple 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'.

In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, 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 highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance.

Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.

A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete fairness".

The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale.

Tess and Claudia's Last Show

Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.

Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.

This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion as they said their goodbyes.

During the live broadcast, 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 bonds created, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.

"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.

"The warmth, care and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."

Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.