Karen Carney crowned Strictly Come Dancing 2025 winner in glitzy live final

Karen Carney has been crowned the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2025, becoming the first footballer to lift the Glitterball Trophy. The former England midfielder won the public vote in Saturday nights live final on BBC One, beating Amber Davies and George Clarke. Carney and her dancing partner Carlos Gu sealed the title after weeks of high energy routines and the kind of showmanship that has kept Strictly synonymous with prime time viewing.

In a night that doubled as a farewell for hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the ballroom offered an emotional tribute to the long running series. A message from Queen Camilla, read by judge Craig Revel Horwood, praised the hosts warmth, compassion and sheer happiness and thanked the show for its friendships. The announcement in October that Daly and Winkleman would step down this year cast the final as a milestone moment for the pair. On stage, Carney and Gu delivered a football themed jive to One Way Or Another by Blondie that drew a standing ovation and helped propel them toward the public vote, along with other performances including a show dance to Inner Smile by Texas and an Argentine Tango to Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as the night built to its conclusion.

Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were the first couple to take to the floor in the final, setting the tone with a run of dances that included a show dance to Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, a Paso Doble to Dream On by Aerosmith, and a jive to Proud Mary. George Clarke and Alexis Warr reprised their Paso Doble to Game of Survival by Ruelle, followed by a show dance to Human by The Killers and a Viennese Waltz to Somebody to Love by Queen. After weeks of tangos and salsas, the public vote ultimately crowned Carney and Gu as this season’s champions. Thomas Skinner, who did not attend the final, later claimed on social media that the BBC had rigged the vote; a BBC spokesperson rejected the claim, saying the public vote is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy.

Five, the boyband known for a string of hits, performed during the grand final, adding a final layer of entertainment to an evening that featured the return of many of the 2025 cast for one last routine. Most of the season’s contestants returned for a final curtain call, underscoring the show’s blend of competition and community. Daly and Winkleman’s last final was an emotional moment for viewers and for the broader Strictly community, and their final signoff underscored the end of an era for the BBC’s flagship dance program. The Queen’s recorded message, read during the broadcast, framed Strictly as much about friendship as dancing, and highlighted the warmth and happiness that have defined the show’s public face. The Christmas special on 25 December will mark the end of Daly and Winkleman’s run in their current roles, providing a last chance to celebrate their contribution to the program.

In the broader arc of Strictly Come Dancing 2025, Carneys victory stands out as a milestone for athletes crossing into mainstream entertainment and for fans who have supported a footballer winning the competition for the first time. The show continues to blend star power with the timeless appeal of ballroom dancing, and the final’s emotional farewell for its long-time presenters added a human dimension that complemented the high-gloss performances. The Christmas special remains on the calendar as a capstone to a season that will be remembered for its mix of athleticism, nostalgia and new voices in British pop culture.