Strictly Winners Crowned in Glitzy Grand Final
This piece covers the conclusion of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final.
Ex- Lioness Karen Carney has been declared this year's Strictly Come Dancing winner, emerging as the first footballer to win the coveted trophy.
She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the audience vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with pro partner Carlos Gu, said: "I can't believe it, it's been the biggest privilege," before adding she was "overwhelmed".
It was an emotional night in the studio, as presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly fronted the final for the last time - with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a message read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "kindness, compassion and pure happiness" had been at the heart of the show's popularity, stating: "I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly wonderful".
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 advisory scores but the viewing audience made the ultimate choice.
Carney and Gu executed 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 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 duo faced stiff rivalry from the other remaining couples.
Amber Davies and her partner, Nikita Kuzmin, were the initial to take to the stage.
The couple delivered dances 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 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 journey, and supported us," said Carney.
Gu told her she had "been transformative," adding: "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 performance.
Yet, social media personality Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had claimed 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 accuracy".
The group Five also performed a string of their popular songs during the finale.
The Hosts' Last Show
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the surprise announcement that they would be leaving their roles 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 last time presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of feeling as they signed off.
During the televised event, as well as the tribute 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: "I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about relationships: the connections created, the challenges overcome and the happiness experienced in undertaking a joint challenge.
"If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
"The kindness, compassion and sheer happiness you have projected with and from each other has been at the heart of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever appearance will be the holiday episode, which is broadcast on 25 December.
