Karen Carney celebrates historic Strictly Come Dancing win after tear-jerking BBC finale

Following a dramatic series of injuries and withdrawals galore, Strictly Come Dancing 2025 has crowned its winner – and she’s made history in the process.

Last night, the BBC dance competition came to a dazzling end as Karen Carney, George Clarke, and Amber Davies performed for the last time in a bid to lift the Glitter Ball trophy.

But there could only be one champion, and, after millions of viewer votes, it was Lioness Karen and her pro partner, Carlos Gu, who emerged victorious.

Karen’s triumph is special for many reasons, as not only does it mark Carlos’s first win since joining the show in 2022, but she’s also the first-ever footballer to take the trophy.

Social media star George and his partner, newbie Alexis Warr, and West End performer Amber and her pro Nikita Kuzmin watched on with beaming smiles as they celebrated the result.

After she was announced as the winner, Karen said: ‘I can’t believe it.

‘I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey and supported us.’

‘Thank you to this wonderful gentleman,’ she directed at Carlos. ‘We are a team, and I couldn’t have done it without you.

‘It’s been the biggest privilege and honour. I’m literally lost for words; I’m so sorry.’

A highly emotional Carlos then chimed in to his partner: ‘You changed my life.’

He added down the lens: ‘To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up.’

Strictly viewers wasted no time taking to social media with their overjoyed responses to the result, declaring it ‘so well deserved’.

‘I’ve loved them from the start and voted every week! Congratulations Karen & Carlos!’, wrote @andreag243 on X.

‘For someone who never danced in her life, boy did she do amazing, well done Karen and Carlos’, added @mintysilver579.

‘Karen winning Strictly has healed me. What a year for lionesses. And Carlos is such a sweetheart’, said @le_coconuts.

After some time to digest what had happened, Karen took to her own Instagram page with some backstage snaps alongside her fellow finalists, writing that ‘it has been so incredibly special being on this journey with you right until the end’.

‘Last night was a celebration and I’m so grateful we could experience that together – you were all incredible!’, she said of George and Amber. ‘Thank you for being some of the loveliest, most caring people I’ve ever met. From start to finish sharing the dance floor with you has been the biggest honour.

‘I can’t believe that was our last time dancing together but I’m so thankful I have friends for life in all of you 🫶🏼’

Karen later proved that she and Carlos are still very much on cloud nine, sharing a screenshot from a FaceTime call in which they held up their Glitter Balls with pride.

‘My guy ❤️’, read her caption.

The freshly crowned winners are now added to Strictly’s Hall of Fame, succeeding comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell after their historic win last series.

And it was clear it meant a lot to Carlos in particular, who left the nation weeping earlier this evening with a speech in the Claudatorium.

On joining the pro dancer lineup, he confessed to previously being ‘self-centred’, adding through sobs: ‘No wonder I didn’t get a partner last year, because I’m not grateful.

‘And she (Karen) taught me how to be a kind, humble person, and for the first time, I learned to be a team player.’

As for the other finalists, they’ve done nothing but sing Karen’s praises and congratulate her on the win, even though runner-up George admitted it wasn’t easy knowing the show was ending.

He penned on socials: ‘Last night was a lot to process but not because I didn’t walk away with a glitterball. The journey is done and that’s hard to come to terms with.

‘Strictly has been a hell of an experience for me and I feel like I’ve learned so so much. For someone who’s made a career from sitting in front of a camera I really am not comfortable being the centre of attention so immediately I knew Strictly would be a challenge.’

Praising his pro, he added: ‘Strictly has gained a real gem and an asset and it was an absolute privilege to have the honour of being her first partner.’

Meanwhile, Amber declared the final the ‘best night of my life’, saying to Karen and Carlos: ‘So so unbelievably happy for you two wonderful humans’.

Last night, each couple performed three times for the judges and viewers. They chose their favourite dance from the series, and the panel also picked a number for them to perform again. Their Strictly journey culminated in an extravagant show dance, showcasing everything they’ve learned.

Sports broadcaster Karen, 38, performed her iconic week 1 jive to Blondie’s One Way or Another as her favourite routine, while the judges asked her to fine-tune her Peaky Blinders-inspired Argentine tango from Halloween. Her epic show dance was to Inner Smile by Texas.

Meanwhile, Amber, 29, and Nikita also selected their jive – this time to Proud Mary – as their favourite dance. The judges asked them to perfect their paso doble to Dream On by Aerosmith before their show dance to Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande lit up the floor.

As for internet personality George, 26, he and Alexis picked their paso to Game Of Survival by Ruelle, while the panel wanted them to return to their Somebody To Love Viennese waltz. George and Alexis danced their show dance to Human by The Killers.

The final also welcomed back the cast of 2025 – including Balvinder Sopal, Ellie Goldstein, Lewis Cope, Vicky Pattison, and more – for one final group number.

But The Apprentice contestant Thomas Skinner was noticeably absent due to his ongoing feud with the BBC since being eliminated in week 2.

There were plenty of tears elsewhere, too, as hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman bowed out of hosting duties for good, having announced earlier in the series that this would be their last together.

Addressing viewers at home as they struggled to hold it together, the formidable pair said it has been an ‘absolute privilege’ to host the show for so many years, with Tess adding: ‘From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the support you’ve shown us.’

Judge Craig Revel Horwood also surprised them by reading out a personal message from Queen Camilla, who is a self-confessed Strictly fanatic, to the point where she knew all the right lingo, declaring Tess and Claud ‘fab-u-lous.’

It remains to be seen which duo will take over in 2026, but current frontrunners include Zoe Ball, Bradley Walsh, and Alex Jones.

There’s no denying that Strictly 2025 has been a rollercoaster, thanks to a record number of premature exits from contestants.

Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn had to withdraw on medical grounds before the series had even started, while Dani Dyer then had to pull out due to a foot injury after launch night.

Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis suffered a calf injury, also forcing him out early doors, before Drag Race star La Voix injured her ankle and had to exit after Blackpool Week; hence, the three-person finale.

Consequently, audiences have declared this the ‘most cursed Strictly ever’.

It remains to be seen what the show will look like come next autumn, as rumours are already swirling that hugely popular pros such as Johannes Radebe and Nadiya Bychkova are leaving.

However, one thing’s for certain, and it’s that Strictly is staying put, with bosses shutting down reports of a ‘seismic’ shift by moving locations to Greater Manchester.

Honestly, after all the ups and downs of this season, we’ll welcome the rest!

Catch up with Strictly 2025 on BBC iPlayer.

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