Breaking: Karen Carney Clinches Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Crown in A Historic Final
In a pulse-quickening live finale on BBC One, former England forward karen carney has been crowned this yearS Strictly Come Dancing champion, marking a historic milestone as the first footballer to lift the glitterball trophy.
Carney, partnered with carlos Gu, surged ahead after the public vote, beating out Amber Davies and George Clarke in a final that kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
“I can’t believe it, it’s been the biggest privilege and honor,” Carney said, calling the moment “lost for words.”
The evening was a send-off for long-time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, with Queen Camilla among those paying tribute to the duo. A message read by judge Craig Revel Horwood highlighted the hosts’ warmth, compassion and happiness as the show’s enduring strengths.
As tradition dictates, the final featured a mix of the judges’ pick, the couples’ favorite moments from the season, and a show dance.Advisory scores from the panel were superseded by the public vote, which ultimately decided the winner.
Carney and Gu delivered memorable routines,including a show dance to Inner Smile by texas and an Argentine Tango to Red right Hand by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. They also earned a standing ovation with a football-themed jive to One Way Or Another by Blondie, marking their second perfect score of the night.
Meanwhile, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin entertained with a show dance to Rain On Me and a Paso Doble to Dream On, while george Clarke and Alexis Warr revisited a Paso Doble to Game of Survival and followed with a show dance to Human and a Viennese Waltz to Somebody to Love.
In a night that celebrated the series’ community, most of the 2025 cast returned for one final routine.Social media figure Thomas Skinner did not attend, publicly alleging the BBC rigged the vote-a claim the broadcaster rejected, stressing the vote was independently overseen and verified for accuracy. The finale also featured a performance by the boyband Five.
Key facts at a glance
| Winner | Karen Carney and Carlos Gu |
| Runners-up | Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin; George Clarke and Alexis Warr |
| Final format | Judges’ advisory scores, with the public vote deciding the winner |
| Notable winner performances | Show dance to Inner Smile; Argentine Tango to Red Right Hand; football-themed jive to One way Or Another |
| Hosts | Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly |
| Royal tribute | Queen Camilla acknowledged the hosts’ contributions |
| Controversy | Thomas Skinner alleged vote rigging; BBC denied the claim |
| Other performances | Five performed a string of hits |
Evergreen insight: The result underscores the enduring pull of audience participation in reality competition, demonstrating how cross-domain appeal-from professional athletes to reality personalities-keeps shows dynamic and widely watched. With the hosts transitioning out, the franchise may lean further on nostalgia and high-profile performances to sustain momentum in future seasons.
Reader engagement: Which moment from the final stood out to you the most? Do you believe public voting should be safeguarded against perceptions of bias?
Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation about one of this year’s most talked-about television moments.
What does it mean when someone says, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that”?
I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that.
