Amy Dowden pays tribute to ‘darling brother’ Carlos Gu as he wins Strictly

Carlos Gu and Karen Carney have been crowned champions of Strictly Come Dancing 2025.

Strictly Come Dancing favourite Amy Dowden has paid a heartfelt tribute to 2025 winner Carlos Gu.

In an emotional final, footballer Karen Carney was declared champion alongside her professional partner Carlos.

They beat Amber Davies and partner Nikita Kuzmin, and George Clarke with Alexis Warr, to lift the Glitterball Trophy, following in the footsteps of Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland.

Upon winning, Karen said: “I cannot believe it, I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, supported us, and thank you to this wonderful gentleman, we are a team and could not have done this without you.

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“I can’t believe it, it’s been the biggest privilege and honour, I’m lost for words.”

Carlos added: “Thank you Karen Carney, I love you. Thank you for being so incredible this whole journey, you taught me so much.

“Thank you for changing my life and thank you Strictly and every individual in this room, on and off screen who makes this happen.

“To boys and girls watching at home, dream big and never give up because you never know.”

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The pair have been showered in support from fans and friends alike, with Amy taking to Instagram with a sweet post.

The Welsh dancer made a triumphant return to Strictly this year after her cancer diagnosis, which forced her to sit out a year, and an injury which caused her to withdraw last year while partnered with JB Gill.

Amy was partnered with Thomas Skinner this series, but the pair became the first eliminated.

She underwent a second mastectomy weeks later, keeping fans updated on her recovery, and returned to Strictly tonight.

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Celebrating Carlos and Karen, Amy wrote: “They did it! What a night. All finalist were incredible! Congrats all! To my darling brother im so proud of you @gkx_carlos.

“I know how much you’ve loved this series, you’ve learnt, grown and shown your true authentic self! You wanted this for @kazcarney.

“Kaz you shone, thank you for being you, beautiful dancing but a wonderful soul! So happy for you both! Our new 2025 champions.

“Last year Carlos and I would sit and get quite emotional many nights and I used to tell him 2025 sounds like a good year and I was right, what a year.

“@bbcstrictly thank you for another incredible series and for supporting me through and through xxxxx love you all deeply xxxx.”

It had been an emotional final, as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s last-ever series, which saw them break down in tears as they ended the show one last time.

Elsewhere, Carlos also broke down as he made a heartfelt speech, referencing his previous years on Strictly without a partner.

After his final dance with Karen, he said: “She changed my life. I think she’s the best thing I ever had in 2025.”

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He admitted that when he joined Strictly in 2022 after competitive life, he was “self centred”, adding: “I was me, me, me…. no wonder I didn’t get a partner last year because I’m not grateful and she…”

The star – who was partnered with Molly Rainford in his debut year – then took a moment to gather his thoughts, as host Claudia replied: “No, no, no.”

Carlos continued: “I need to finish. She taught me how to be a kind, humble person and for the first time I learned to be a team player. I’m never a team player which I’m so sad about it.”

An emotional Claudia told him: “You’ve always been a team player, you have, and we love you and your partnership is everything.”

Fans were left sobbing by his speech, as one wrote: “Oh Carlos Gu, you deserve the world.” Another added: “Carlos breaks my HEART,” while someone else echoed: “I don’t cry in front of my mum EVER but carlos has just brought the tears i am a mess rn.”

The Strictly Come Dancing final is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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