Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Final

This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the glitterball 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 dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "lost for words".

It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.

In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".

As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.

The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision.

Carney and Gu performed dances including a show dance 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.

But the winning duo faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor.

The pair delivered dances 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 reprised their dramatic dance 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 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 "been transformative," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."

Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more routine.

Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged.

A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness".

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

The Hosts' Final Show

In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be leaving their roles 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 companion program It Takes Two since 2004.

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

During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef 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 created, the struggles overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.

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

"The warmth, care and pure 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 holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.