The former footballer and her professional dance partner, Carlos Gu, have made it through to the final of the BBC One dance contest
Strictly Come Dancing’s Karen Carney and Carlos Gu(Image: Karen Carney Instagram)
Fans have been left ‘gutted’ after news about Karen Carney’s Strictly Come Dancing future was revealed just days before the final of the 2025 series takes place.
The former footballer and her professional dance partner, Carlos Gu, have made it through to the final of the BBC One dance contest, having topped the leaderboard during Saturday night’s (December 13) semi-final with a joint score of 78 out of a possible 80 for her two dances.
Karen and Carlos scored 39 for their waltz to One Moment In Time by Whitney Houston, and another 39 for their salsa to Turn The Beat Around by Vicki Sue Robinson, during the penultimate week of the BBC dancing programme on Saturday night (December 13).
The pair were moved to tears after their first performance, with the judges also becoming emotional, as Karen remarked to her dance partner: “I just love this guy,” before judge Anton Du Beke admitted to being emotional and fighting back tears as he delivered his verdict.
He said of the waltz: “I got a bit emotional, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, I never thought you would be capable of doing that, I never thought for a second you could dance like that. I know what you can do, you can do crash bang wallop, I never thought you could do that quality, that softness, that sensitivity.”
It was then, during the last results show of Strictly’s 23rd series on Sunday (December 14), that Karen and Carlos were confirmed as being finalists, with them set to compete for the coveted Glitterball trophy this Saturday (December 20) against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, and George Clarke and Alexis Warr.
But ahead of potentially being crowned Strictly champion, it’s been revealed that Karen won’t be part of the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing Live 2026 tour, which kick off at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on January 23.
Karen and Carlos are through to the Strictly 2025 final(Image: Karen Carney Instagram)
The final couple set to tour the country early next year were confirmed on Monday (December 15) as Lewis Cope and Katya Jones, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley and returning star Layton Williams, who will re-join former dance partner Nikita Kuzmin as a guest star.
They will be joined by the previously announced couples – Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington, Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola, Harry Aikines-Aryeety and Karen Hauer and La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec, plus, the legendary Strictly Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood, and tour host Janette Manrara.
And, realising Karen won’t be involved, fans were quick to respond. @jessica.madelinee commented: “No karen & carlos??” @ttthatters said: “No Karen and Carlos, very disappointing.” @brazier.ian replied: “DEFINITELY [crying emoji] gutted.” @k.i.m.m.e.h wrote: “Gutted no Karen.” @jennifrost21 posted: “Shame karen was busy but can’t wait to see lewis and katya. Sure he will be winning quite a few shows.” @eddo_official added: “Will miss kaz but what a strong lineup.”
Following the opening night at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on January 23, the glitz, the glamour and the sequins – together with the all-important celebrity contestants and their professional dancer partners – will travel sto some of the UK’s biggest entertainment venues leaving a trail of glitter in their wake: Utilita Arena Newcastle, First Direct Bank Arena Leeds, AO Arena Manchester, Utilita Arena Sheffield, M&S Bank Arena Liverpool, OVO Hydro Glasgow, Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, and finally The O2 in London, culminating on 15 February.
Lewis and George will be unavailable to perform at some shows due to prior commitments. For more information and to book tickets, visit: StrictlyComeDancingLive.com
