Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale
This report details the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "lost for words".
It was an emotional night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.
In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant".
As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite 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 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, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the dance floor.
The pair delivered routines 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'.
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 Viennese 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.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," adding: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up."
Other memorable moments 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 vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A spokesperson denied the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final.
The Hosts' Final Final
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined 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 overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes.
During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages 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 forged, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.
"The kindness, compassion 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 Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
