Strictly Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Final
This piece covers the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to win the glitterball trophy.
She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "overwhelmed".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.
In a message presented by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly brilliant".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.
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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning pair faced fierce rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
The couple delivered routines including a freestyle 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 reprised 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 salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu's night as they won the viewer poll.
"My sincere thanks go 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, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included most of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more routine.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Final Show
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series.
Daly has hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman came on board 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 signed off.
During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and fans 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 relationships: the bonds created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, care and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
