Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Final
This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy.
She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest privilege," before saying she was "lost for words".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.
In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show 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 viewing audience 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 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 strong rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage.
The pair delivered dances including a freestyle 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 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 tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go to everybody that has supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine.
Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A representative denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete accuracy".
The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Final Show
In October, 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 inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off.
During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages 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 friendships: the bonds forged, the struggles overcome and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, care 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 appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
