Strictly Champions Announced in Spectacular Grand Finale
This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday's grand finale.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, said: "This is incredible, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "lost for words".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the final occasion - with the Queen among those offering praise to the long-running hosts.
In a note read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, empathy and sheer 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 fab-u-lous".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.
The judges gave advisory scores but the public made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu performed 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 sports-inspired jive to 'One Way Or Another' by Blondie, earning them a rapturous reception - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the winning duo faced strong rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the stage.
The couple delivered dances including a show dance to 'Rain On Me' by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to 'Dream On' by Aerosmith, and a upbeat dance 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 freestyle routine 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.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the young people watching at home, aim high and be confident and never give up."
Other highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 coming back for one more routine.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total accuracy".
The boyband Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
Tess and Claudia's Last Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be stepping down at the end of this year's season.
Daly has presented since the inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined 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 emotion as they said their goodbyes.
During the televised event, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 friendships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint endeavour.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly pairing of all.
"The kindness, care and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."
Daly and Winkleman's final appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
