Strictly Come Dancing Winners Crowned in Spectacular Grand Finale

This article reveals the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing culminating event.

Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy.

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

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

It was an heartfelt 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 long-running hosts.

In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, compassion and sheer joy" had been at the heart of the show's success, adding: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous".

Following tradition, one of the dances in the final show was chosen by the judges, one was their own favourite dance from the series, and the other was a freestyle routine.

The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.

Carney and Gu executed dances including a freestyle 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 standing ovation - and their second full marks of the night.

But the victorious duo faced stiff competition from the other competing couples.

Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the first to grace the dance floor.

The pair performed 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 reprised 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 supported our experience, and supported us," said Carney.

Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "To the girls and boys watching at home, aim high and be proud and never give up."

Other memorable moments on the night included the majority of the contestants of 2025 returning for one more performance.

However, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not appear. He had claimed earlier that the elimination process that saw him exit the show was unfair.

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

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

Tess and Claudia's Last Show

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 inaugural series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.

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

During the live broadcast, as well as the message from the Queen, there were recorded notes from TV cook Mary Berry, members of the crew and devotees 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 relationships: the bonds created, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a shared challenge.

"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.

"The warmth, compassion and pure happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's success."

Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.