Strictly Come Dancing Champions Crowned in Glitzy Live Finale

This piece covers the result of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.

Former England footballer Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing champion, emerging as the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy.

She defeated reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after winning the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.

Carney, who was dancing with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "This is incredible, it's been the greatest honour," before adding she was "overwhelmed".

It was an emotional night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time - with the Queen among those paying tribute to the veteran hosts.

In a note presented by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, adding: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly brilliant".

Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance.

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 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 victorious pair faced fierce competition from the other competing couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial 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'.

In another performance, 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 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 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 routine.

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 representative rejected the allegation, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and verified to ensure total fairness".

The boyband Five also performed a string of their hits during the grand final.

Tess and Claudia's Final Show

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

Daly has hosted 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 hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with feeling as they said their goodbyes.

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 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 friendships: the bonds created, the challenges overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour.

"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing 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 success."

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