Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Final
This article reveals the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
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 show dance.
The judges gave guidance scores but the public made the final decision.
Carney and Gu executed 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night.
But the victorious duo faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the stage.
The couple performed dances including a freestyle 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 dramatic dance 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 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," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was rigged.
A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy".
The group Five also performed a string of their hits during the finale.
The Hosts' Last Show
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series.
Daly has hosted since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes.
During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 challenges overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"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 centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
