Strictly Champions Crowned in Spectacular Live Final
This report details the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Former Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, 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 audience vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed".
It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.
In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer happiness" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers 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 preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.
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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.
But the victorious pair faced strong rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial 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 upbeat dance 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 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 public vote.
"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 young people watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more routine.
However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him exit the show was unfair.
A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.
The Hosts' Final Final
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the shock announcement that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series.
Daly has presented 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 emotion 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 crew 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 forged, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The warmth, care and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
