Professional dancer Carlos Gu made a tearful admission just moments before it was revealed he’d won with Karen Carney
Aaliyah Rugg Senior reporter
21:15, 20 Dec 2025Updated 21:45, 20 Dec 2025
Strictly’s Carlos Gu made a tearful admission during the BBC One live final(Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing’s Carlos Gu made a tearful admission as he broke down on the BBC One live final.
Tonight (December 20) saw former England footballer Karen Carney, West End star Amber Davies and YouTuber and TikTok star George Clarke all take to the stage for a final time in the hopes of being crowned the Strictly Come Dancing winner.
Each performing three dances with their professional partners, the three finalists all had hopes of lifting the legendary Glitterball trophy, but only one could be crowned the Strictly Come Dancing winner – with the champion being crowned this evening.
In what has been an emotional show, with many fans left in tears, tonight also marked hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s last time presenting the hit BBC dancing competition after they announced their exit earlier this year.
Strictly’s professional dancer Carlos had to take a moment to compose himself during an emotional speech(Image: BBC)
Professional dancer Carlos was seen breaking down in tears after his final dance with ex footballer Karen.
The duo thrilled judges with their Showdance to Inner Smile, their Argentine Tango to Red Right Hand as well as their favourite dance – the Jive to One Way or Another.
Speaking to Claudia after their final dance, Carlos made a tearful admission. Speaking about Karen, he said: “She changed my life. I think she’s the best thing I ever had in 2025.”
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He then admitted when he came to Strictly 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 then took a moment to gather his thoughts, leading to tears from host Claudia as she replied: “No, no, no.”
Carlos went on to say: “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.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 season came to an end tonight(Image: BBC)
An emotional Claudia said: “You’ve always been a team player, you have, and we love you and your partnership is everything.”
Fans at home were instantly reduced to tears, as one person said: “I think Carlos might have just won this for Karen with that speech.”
Another wrote: “Oh Carlos Gu, you deserve the world.” A third added: “Carlos breaks my HEART.” A fourth echoed: “I don’t cry in front of my mum EVER but carlos has just brought the tears i am a mess rn.”
Another said: “That was such an honest speech from Carlos that Im actually crying.”
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Strictly Come Dancing can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.