🔗 Share this article Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Finale This report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She defeated 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 pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional 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 say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed 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 preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants 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 exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final A photo from the historic final presentation 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 hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted 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 live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced 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 last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are declared Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first footballer to win the coveted trophy. She defeated 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 pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words". It was an emotional 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 say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing In a note presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the glitterball trophy - their football-themed 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 preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the ultimate choice. Carney and Gu executed routines 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the opening couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage. The pair delivered routines including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'. In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen. But after weeks of salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll. "I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed 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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to revisit their signature dance from the series, a powerful routine to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included most of the contestants 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 exit the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete fairness". The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Final A photo from the historic final presentation 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 hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted 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 live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef 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 relationships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced 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 last ever appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.