Strictly Come Dancing viewers have defended Amber Davies after Craig Revel Horwood scored her with a surprisingly low mark during the programme’s finale episode.
Davies, a former Love Island contestant and West End performer, competed alongside her pro partner Nikita Kuzmin in Saturday night’s final (20 December), against finalists George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr and winners Karen Carney and pro dancer Carlos Gu.
For their first dance of the night, Davies performed a Paso Doble to “Dream On” by Aerosmith, receiving glowing feedback from the judges – with Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse awarding them 10 points each.
Despite offering positive feedback, Revel Horwood drew criticism for scoring a nine.
“Nonsensical scoring there from Craig,” wrote one viewer on X/Twitter, as another said: “Craig HAS to be joking…. Amber was incredible.”
Another said: “Craig not giving any criticism but still scoring it a 9????”
“CRAIG??????” chimed another. “What the hell craig?!?”
Fans were often perplexed by Revel Horwood’s trademark low scoring compared to the other judges during the final. The judges’ scores did not have any impact on the end result; the public vote decided the winners.
After Carney and her pro partner Gu were crowned the champions of Strictly 2025, the footballer was speechless, saying: “I cannot believe it. I want to say thank you to everybody who has supported my journey.”
Turning to Gu, she said: “Thank you to this wonderful gentleman, we are a team. I could not have done this without you.”
Carney is the first female footballer to compete on the programme, and the first footballer to make it to the final.
The couple’s showstopping closing routine – a football-inspired jive to “One Way or Another” by Blondie – received full marks of 40, while their Argentine tango to “Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds also received a perfect score.
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The tear-jerking episode also marked hosting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s final live show as they step away from the series after more than two decades.
A video tribute was played for departing co-hosts Daly and Winkleman with messages from fans, friends and familiar faces, including TV cook Mary Berry.
Revel Horwood later read out a special message sent by the Queen addressed to the hosts, which said: “I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships: the bonds forged, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour.
“If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.” The message was signed off: “With the warmest gratitude and admiration, Her Royal Highness, Queen Camilla.”
Both hosts appeared emotional as Daly said: “Thank you so much to you all for your lovely words, it has meant the world.
Davies has been vocal about the negative comments she has received throughout the series due to her previous dance training. After she beat fan-favourite Lewis Cope in the quarter-final dance-off, the comments became so vitriolic that her pro partner Kuzmin issued an emotional plea to fans.
Davies has maintained throughout the series that she had not been previously trained in ballroom or Latin styles, which are the “polar opposite” of her musical theatre training.
She told It Takes Two: “I feel like I’ve worked just as hard as the other finalists. I had to fight to get into the final; we are here for entertainment.”
“I was given this opportunity. Nobody was going to decline Strictly as a Strictly fan.”