🔗 Share this article Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star 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 honour," before adding she was "speechless". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed dances 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 rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The couple delivered 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion 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 production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
This report details the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship. View: Scene Strictly Come Dancing 2025 victors are crowned Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first footballer to claim the coveted trophy. She beat reality TV star 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 honour," before adding she was "speechless". It was an poignant night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts. Hosts Tess and Claudia bid farewell to Strictly Come Dancing In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant". Karen Carney and Carlos Gu with the championship trophy - their soccer-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie earned them a rapturous applause. As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance. The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision. Carney and Gu executed dances 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 rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to step onto the stage in the final. But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples. Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor. The couple delivered 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'. Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote. "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 proud and never give up." Social media star George Clarke and Alexis Warr chose to repeat their favourite dance from the series, a Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle. Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance. However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged. A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure total accuracy". The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale. Tess and Claudia's Final Show A photo from the emotional final presentation by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season. Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004. This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion 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 production team and fans of the show. The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the struggles overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour. "Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all. "The kindness, care and sheer joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal." Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.