Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Finale
This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Former Lioness Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly winner, emerging as the first professional soccer player to lift the coveted trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was dancing with professional dancer Carlos Gu, stated: "It's unbelievable, it's been the greatest privilege," before adding she was "lost for words".
It was an heartfelt night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those offering praise to the veteran hosts.
In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".
As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected 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 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, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second full marks of the night.
But the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage.
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'.
Meanwhile, 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 Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
But after weeks of tangos, it was Carney and Gu's night as they topped the viewer poll.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be confident and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included most of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more performance.
However, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A spokesperson denied the allegation, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and verified 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 announcement that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's series.
Daly has presented since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion 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 production team 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 connections forged, the challenges conquered and the joy shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"Should that be the case, 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 show will be the holiday episode, which airs on 25 December.
