As Tess Daly, now 56, bid an emotional farewell to Strictly Come Dancing, where she has been a fixture since its inception in 2004, tears glistened in her eyes throughout the 2025 finale. The show’s judges, cast, and crew expressed their gratitude for her pivotal contributions to the beloved BBC program. After captivating performances by the final trio—Amber Davies, George Clarke, and Karen Carney—Tess, alongside her cherished co-host Claudia Winkleman, revealed that former footballer Karen Carney had clinched the coveted Glitterball Trophy. Following extensive practice and dedication with her professional dance partner Carlos Gu, Karen expressed her astonishment at the victory, saying, “I can’t believe it. A huge thanks to everyone who supported us. This has been the greatest privilege, and I’m truly speechless.”

Emotional and grateful, Carlos, who is relatively new to the Strictly stage, echoed her sentiments: “Thank you for an unforgettable journey. You’ve taught me immensely. We pushed each other, we supported one another. You’ve forever changed my life.”

Celebrating their achievement, Tess shared a radiant Instagram photo of herself in a dazzling gold gown, standing proudly beside the triumphant Karen and Carlos, who held their Glitterball Trophy with joy.

In her touching caption, she wrote, “Congratulations to the Class of 2025 winners!”

Fans flocked to the comments to celebrate the duo, marking the end of an era as Tess and Claudia step away, making this the final victory Tess will announce.

The women sent shockwaves through the showbiz world this Autumn when they announced they’d be exiting the show.

“We have loved working as a duo, and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time,” she and Claudia shared on Instagram in October.

“We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series, and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.”