Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final
This article reveals the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy.
She defeated Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words".
It was an heartfelt night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted 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 "warmth, empathy and pure joy" had been at the core 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 series, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.
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 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 pair faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage.
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'.
In another performance, 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 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.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Last Final
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their final time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team 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 friendships: the connections forged, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.
"The kindness, care and pure happiness 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.