Strictly Come Dancing Champions Announced in Glitzy Grand Finale
This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with Queen Camilla 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, compassion and pure joy" 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 public made the final decision.
Carney and Gu performed 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, garnering them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night.
But the victorious duo 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 couple performed routines including a show dance 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 reprised their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
They also did their show dance to 'Human' by The Killers, and a Viennese 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 backed 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 confident and never give up."
Other highlights 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 spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness".
The group Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.
The Hosts' Final Final
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 joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they said their goodbyes.
During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef 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 relationships: the connections created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The kindness, compassion and pure joy you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
