Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Final
This piece covers the result of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 championship.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.
She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.
In a message read out by judge 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 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 routines including a show dance 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, garnering them a standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the victorious duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.
The pair delivered 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'.
In another performance, 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 ballroom dances, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the public vote.
"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, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the elimination process 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 total accuracy".
The group Five also performed a selection of their popular songs during the finale.
The Hosts' Last Final
Earlier this year, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show 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 live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans of the show.
The Queen's message said: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the bonds created, the struggles conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.
"The kindness, care and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
