Winners crowned after Amber Davies, Karen Carney and George Clarke perform one last time

This article reveals the outcome of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final.

Former Lioness Karen Carney has been crowned this year’s Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first footballer to lift the glitter ball trophy.

She beat Love Islander Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke after winning the public vote in Saturday’s BBC One live final.

“I can’t believe it, this has been the greatest privilege and honor for me,” said Carney, who was paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, adding that she was “lost for words.”

It was an emotional night in the ballroom where Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the final for the last time; Queen Camilla was among those who paid tribute to their long-standing hosts.

In the message, read by judge Craig Revel Horwood, the Queen said Daly and Winkleman’s “warmth, compassion and sheer happiness” were at the core of the show’s success, adding: “I think I speak for all of you when I say you are absolutely magnificent.”

As usual, one of the dances in the grand finale was chosen by the judges, one was their favorite dance from the series and the other was the show dance.

Judges gave advisory scores, but the public made the final decision.

Carney and Gu performed routines such as 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 gesture to Blondie’s One Way Or Another, earning a standing ovation and their second perfect score of the night.

However, the winning pair faced stiff competition from the other remaining pairs.

The first to hit the dance floor were Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin.

The duo performed routines such as a show dance to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s Rain On Me, a Paso Doble to Aerosmith’s Dream On, and Proud Mary’s song.

Meanwhile, George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr revived their Paso Doble in Ruelle’s Game of Survival.

They also performed a show dance to Human by The Killers and a Viennese Waltz to Somebody to Love by Queen.

But after weeks of tangos, salsas and foxtrots, it was Carney and Gu’s night that came out on top in the public vote.

Other highlights of the night included most of the 2025 cast returning for one more routine.

However, social media phenomenon Thomas Skinner did not attend the ceremony. Speaking on social media earlier todayHe claimed the BBC rigged the vote, which led to his departure from the show.

A BBC spokesman denied the claim, saying Strictly’s public vote was “independently audited and verified to ensure full accuracy”.

Boy band Five also performed a number of hits during the grand finale.