Strictly Champions Announced in Spectacular Live Finale
This piece covers the outcome of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing championship.
Former England footballer Karen Carney has been named this year's Strictly champion, emerging as the first professional soccer player to win the coveted trophy.
She beat reality TV star Amber Davies and online influencer George Clarke after securing the viewers' vote in Saturday's live final.
Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, remarked: "It's unbelievable, it's been the biggest honour," before adding she was "speechless".
It was an poignant night in the ballroom, 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 note read out by panelist Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman's "warmth, empathy and sheer 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 wonderful".
Following tradition, one of the dances in the grand finale was selected by the judges, one was their own preferred dance from the series, and the other was a show dance.
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 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 standing ovation - 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 first to take to the stage.
The couple delivered routines including a freestyle 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 reprised their dramatic dance to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
They also did their freestyle routine 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 won the viewer poll.
"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 highlights on the night included the majority of the cast of 2025 returning for one more performance.
Yet, online figure Thomas Skinner did not attend. He had alleged earlier that the vote that saw him leave the show was unfair.
A representative denied the claim, saying the show's public vote was "externally monitored and checked to ensure complete fairness".
The boyband Five also performed a selection of their hits during the grand final.
The Hosts' Last Final
In October, Daly and Winkleman made the shock revelation that they would be leaving their roles at the end of this year's season.
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 presenting a Strictly final, and both were full of emotion 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 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 joy shared in undertaking a joint challenge.
"Should that be the case, then perhaps yours has been the most significant Strictly pairing of all.
"The warmth, care and pure joy you have projected with and from each other has been at the centre of the show's appeal."
Daly and Winkleman's last ever show will be the Christmas special, which airs on 25 December.
