Strictly Winners Announced in Spectacular Live Finale

This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the glitterball trophy.

She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the audience vote in Saturday's live final.

Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest privilege," before saying she was "overwhelmed".

It was an heartfelt 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 veteran hosts.

In a message presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the core of the show's popularity, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful".

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 advisory scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.

Carney and Gu performed routines 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 standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.

But the victorious pair faced strong competition from the other competing couples.

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

The pair performed routines including a show dance 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 dramatic dance 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 won the public vote.

"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported 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 highlights on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 coming back for one more performance.

However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was rigged.

A spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the show's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure total accuracy".

The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the grand final.

Tess and Claudia's Final Final

In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's series.

Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.

This was their last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off.

During the televised event, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the production team and devotees of the show.

The Queen's message read: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges conquered and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.

"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.

"The kindness, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal."

Daly and Winkleman's final show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.