Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Final

This article reveals the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to win the coveted 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 pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "It's unbelievable, 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 last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.

In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion 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 brilliant".

Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.

The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.

Carney and Gu performed routines including a show dance 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 rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.

But the victorious duo faced stiff competition from the other competing couples.

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

The couple performed routines including a freestyle to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a jive to 'Proud Mary'.

Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.

They also did their show dance 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 topped the public vote.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, 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 memorable moments on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance.

Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.

A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and checked to ensure complete accuracy".

The group 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 stepping down 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 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 crew 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 bonds created, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour.

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

"The warmth, care and pure happiness you have radiated 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 is broadcast on 25 December.