Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale
This piece covers the conclusion of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final.
Ex- England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure 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 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 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 football-themed jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the victorious pair faced stiff competition from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to take to the dance floor.
The pair delivered 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 upbeat dance to 'Proud Mary'.
Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr reprised 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 won the public vote.
"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," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud 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 rigged.
A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure complete accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.
The Hosts' Last 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 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 live broadcast, as well as the tribute 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 created, the struggles conquered and the happiness shared in undertaking a joint challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.