Strictly Come Dancing Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Finale

This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 culminating event.

Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy.

She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale.

Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "lost for words".

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

In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and sheer happiness" had been at the heart of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful".

As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.

The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the final decision.

Carney and Gu performed 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.

But the victorious pair faced stiff rivalry from the other competing couples.

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

The couple delivered routines 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'.

Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr performed again their dramatic dance 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 topped the public vote.

"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.

Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up."

Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance.

Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him leave the show was rigged.

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

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

Tess and Claudia's Final Show

In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series.

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

This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling 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 production team and devotees of the show.

The Queen's message said: "It has often seemed to me that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a shared challenge.

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

"The kindness, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."

Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.