This Saturday night, the glittering ballroom of Strictly Come Dancing will crown its 2025 champion in a live grand final that promises high emotion and spectacular routines. The three celebrities battling for the coveted Glitterball Trophy are former England footballer Karen Carney, reality TV star and musical theatre performer Amber Davies, and social media influencer George Clarke.
Karen Carney's Journey of Confidence
Karen Carney, the 38-year-old former Lioness, enters the final as the bookies' favourite. Her journey over the 13-week series has seen a remarkable transformation from a shy, retired athlete into a graceful and elegant ballroom dancer. She has already made history as the first football star in 21 years to reach the final.
Karen revealed that the show has helped her recover from a crisis of confidence following her retirement from football at age 31 due to injury. "For five or six years I felt crushed," she admitted. "It's rebuilt my confidence and this is by far the happiest I've ever been. I've smiled like I never have before." She credits her professional partner, Carlos Gu, and the entire Strictly experience for her newfound joy.
For her judge's pick in the final, she will recreate her powerful Argentine Tango, inspired by her Birmingham roots and the Peaky Blinders. Karen humorously confessed she has kept the flat cap from that routine as a memento. "I never thought I'd do it again so I took it. Now I've got to find it in the house again for Saturday," she said.
Amber Davies's Defiant Stand Against Criticism
While Karen's story is one of confidence regained, fellow finalist Amber Davies has faced a different challenge. The 29-year-old stage star, a last-minute replacement for the injured Dani Dyer, has been criticised by some viewers for being 'too confident' and 'too polished' due to her prior dance experience in West End musicals.
Despite consistently high scores from the judges, Amber is the only finalist to have faced the dreaded dance-off this series. She has issued a defiant statement on the backlash. "I can't believe I have to say this in 2025 but being ambitious as a woman, being confident, having dreams, working hard does not mean you are stuck up," she stated firmly.
"I want to change that narrative," Amber continued. "I come from a small town in North Wales and I have worked so hard because I love what I do... don't undermine yourself to make other people feel comfortable." Her professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, praised her talent, saying it allowed them to create innovative routines never before seen on the show.
George Clarke's Leap from Social Media to Strictly
The third finalist, George Clarke, represents a modern twist in the Strictly story. The 26-year-old content creator, with two million TikTok followers, acknowledged the vast difference between performing for a camera and live on the dancefloor. "I'm used to performing into a camera that's close up to my face and I can cut out all the rubbish bits. Unfortunately, I can't do that on the dancefloor," he quipped.
George noted that his appearance on the show has introduced him to a new, broader audience, from grandmothers asking for selfies to screaming teenage girls. He also reflected on the significance of another social media star, Angryginge, winning I'm A Celebrity, suggesting 2025 could be a landmark year for online creators on major TV shows.
The final, airing on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One, will be an especially poignant one. It marks the last time that beloved hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will front the programme after announcing their departure. All three finalists expressed their privilege at being part of the duo's final series.
As the music starts for one last time this series, one of these three distinct personalities will lift the Glitterball Trophy. Whether it's Karen's story of resilience, Amber's mission to redefine confidence, or George's journey from digital screens to the ballroom, the 2025 final is set to be a memorable climax to the season.
