Former England footballer Karen Carney has made television history after being crowned Strictly Come Dancing winner, becoming the first professional footballer to lift the famous glitterball trophy. The live final aired on BBC One on Saturday night and concluded weeks of competition with an emotional celebration of dance, partnerships, and public support.
Carney secured victory after topping the public vote, beating Love Island star Amber Davies and social media personality George Clarke in a tightly fought finale. Paired with professional dancer Carlos Gu, Carney described the win as overwhelming, telling viewers she was “lost for words” and calling the experience the “biggest privilege and honor” of her life.
The final followed the traditional Strictly format, with each couple performing three routines: a judge’s choice dance, a favorite routine from earlier in the series, and a show dance created especially for the finale. Although the judges offered advisory scores, the ultimate decision rested with the audience at home.
Carney and Gu delivered a varied and confident set of performances, including Inner Smile by Texas, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Blondie’s One Way or Another.
Despite Carney’s strong showing, the competition remained fierce. Davies and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin opened the final with high energy. Their routines included Dream On by Aerosmith, Proud Mary, and Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.
George Clark and his partner Alexis Warr also impressed audiences with their performances to Game of Survival by Ruelle, Queen’s Somebody to Love, and Human by The Killers.
In addition to the performances, the final also carried much emotion as it marked the stepping down of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who hosted the final together. Daly has been part of the program since it launched 21 years ago, while Winkleman joined the main show in 2014 after years of presenting It Takes Two. Both announced earlier this year that they would be stepping down at the end of the series.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood read out a tribute from Queen Camilla during the live broadcast. In her words, the Queen praised Daly Winkleman for the “warmth, compassion, and sheer happiness” they brought to the program, suggesting that the friendships formed on Strictly are at the heart of its lasting appeal. She described the hosts as “utterly fab-u-lous,” drawing applause from the ballroom.
Additional messages came from long-time fans, crew members, and familiar faces such as Mary Berry. Musical guests Five also reunited to perform a medley of their hits, while most of the 2025 cast returned for a final group routine. One notable absence was social media personality Thomas Skinner, who claimed online that his earlier exit was unfairly decided. The BBC vigorously refuted the claim, asserting that they independently verify the Strictly vote to guarantee its accuracy.
As the confetti settled, Carney thanked viewers for supporting her journey, and Gu echoed the sentiment, saying the partnership had changed his life. He encouraged young viewers to “dream big and never give up,” a message that reflected the spirit of the series.
Although Daly and Winkleman have now signed off from the main show, they will appear together one final time for the Christmas special on 25 December. For many fans, the night was not just about crowning a champion but about closing a significant chapter in Strictly history.
