In a stunning finale that captivated the nation, former England footballer Karen Carney has danced her way into the record books by winning Strictly Come Dancing 2025. Carney and her professional partner, Carlos Gu, were crowned champions on Saturday night, beating fellow finalists George Clarke and Amber Davies to claim the coveted glitterball trophy.
A Champion's Celebration
The victory sparked immediate celebrations from friends and fans. Television presenter Laura Woods, a close friend of the new champion, took to her Instagram Stories to share her joy. Woods posted a clip of Carney triumphantly holding the trophy aloft on her TV screen, captioning it with exuberant praise: 'She only bloody did it!!!!! KAZ!!! The Champ!'
Carney's win marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first footballer in the show's two-decade history to secure the title. Upon hearing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announce her name, Carney was visibly overcome with shock and emotion, embracing Carlos tightly.
An Emotional Victory Speech
Fighting back tears, the ex-athlete addressed the audience and her partner. 'I cannot believe it,' she began. 'I just wanna say thank you to everybody that's supported our journey... and thank you to this wonderful gentleman [Carlos]. We are a team, and I could not have done this without you.' She concluded by calling the experience 'the biggest privilege and honour', admitting she was left speechless.
The triumphant pair later shared a joint video on Carney's official Instagram, beaming as they clutched the glitterball. 'Hi everybody! We did it!' they exclaimed. 'We can't believe it, but we just want to say thank you so, so much for all your support, all your votes, all your kind words. It means everything.'
A Royal Send-Off for Tess and Claudia
The live final was also a poignant farewell for hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who are departing the show. In a surprise segment, judge Craig Revel Horwood read out a heartfelt letter from Her Majesty Queen Camilla.
The Queen's message praised the duo's unique partnership, stating: 'I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships... If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest strictly partnership of all.' She commended their warmth and compassion, which she said were 'at the heart of the show's success', and signed off with a personal request: 'keep dancing.'
The 2025 series concluded with a historic and emotional night, crowning an unlikely but immensely popular champion and bidding a fond, royal-approved farewell to its beloved hosts.
