Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Final
This article reveals the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen 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 freestyle to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, and an Argentine 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 full marks of the night.
But the winning pair faced fierce competition from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage.
The pair performed 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'.
In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the public vote.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine.
Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Show
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series.
Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of 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 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 forged, the struggles conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
