Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Finale

This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.

Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.

She defeated 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 professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "speechless".

It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.

In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and pure joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".

Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.

The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.

Carney and Gu performed routines 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 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 strong rivalry from the other remaining couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the dance floor.

The couple performed dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Spanish-inspired dance to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'.

In another performance, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our experience, 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 most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.

Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair.

A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy".

The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final.

Tess and Claudia's Final Show

Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.

Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.

This was their final time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off.

During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees of the show.

The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint challenge.

"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.

"The kindness, compassion and sheer 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 Christmas special, which is broadcast on 25 December.