Strictly Winners Announced in Glitzy Grand Final
This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly champion, becoming the first professional soccer player to claim the glitterball trophy.
She overcame reality TV star Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after securing the public vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, stated: "I can't believe it, it's been the greatest honour," before saying she was "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the studio, as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with the Queen 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 "kindness, compassion and pure joy" had been at the core of the show's success, stating: "On behalf of all viewers when I say you have been utterly wonderful".
As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the competition, and the other was a show dance.
The judges gave guidance scores but the viewing audience made the final decision.
Carney and Gu performed dances 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 standing ovation - and their second perfect score of the night.
But the winning duo faced fierce rivalry from the other competing couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to grace the stage.
The pair performed dances 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'.
Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revisited their Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
They also did their show dance 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 public vote.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody that has backed our experience, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "changed my life," commenting: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big 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 appear. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was rigged.
A representative rejected the claim, saying the show's audience vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure total fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the finale.
The Hosts' Last 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 hosted since the first series 21 years ago. Winkleman joined in 2014, having fronted Strictly's companion program It Takes Two since 2004.
This was their last time hosting a Strictly final, and both were overcome with emotion as they signed off.
During the live broadcast, as well as the tribute from the Queen, there were messages from celebrity chef Mary Berry, members of the crew and fans 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 happiness shared in undertaking a shared endeavour.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly partnership of all.
"The kindness, care and pure joy you have radiated 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 airs on 25 December.
