Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Grand Final
This article reveals the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.
Former England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly winner, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the coveted trophy.
She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless".
It was an emotional 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 veteran hosts.
In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure joy" had been at the core 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 viewing audience made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu executed routines 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, earning them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
The pair delivered 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
Meanwhile, 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A representative denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total fairness".
The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Final
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 presented since the first 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 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 recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees of the show.
The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the joy experienced in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.
"The kindness, 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 final appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
