Karen Carney has spoken out on Carlos Gu’s emotional display after the duo lifted Strictly Come Dancing’s Glitterball trophy on Saturday night, fighting off stiff competition from George Clarke and Amber Davies
Karen Carney has revealed her partner Carlos Gu’s true colours after the professional dancer confessed to being “self-centred” before getting the chance to compete with the retired Lioness.
Strictly 2025 champion Karen appeared on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 on Monday morning, just days lifting the Glitterball trophy, which left the former professional footballer in disbelief, while Carlos burst into floods of tears.
After discussing her win, Scott was keen to check on Carlos, asking Karen: “Is Carlos alright, because he got through some tissues on Saturday didn’t he? Got all emotional.”
Explaining his tearful display, Karen described Carlos as “a soft, gentle soul”, before sharing how she was looking forward to catching up with him again.
She told Scott: “He did. He’s such a soft, gentle soul and I think the absolute world of him and I get to see him today, so I’m very excited.
“I haven’t had 24 hours without Carlos Gu in my life, so I’ve missed him but yeah, he’s incredible and he did a fantastic job and I was so blessed and lucky to have him as my partner.
“And definitely a friend for life with Mr Gu, so I’m really happy I’ve got him in my life.”
Scott joked that he “would put money on” Carlos crying again when he reunites with Karen, prompting her to reveal: “I carry tissues everywhere now just in case!”
She continued to explain the tissues were “just for Carlos”, adding: “Because you just never know. Something just sets him off and he just gets upset and I have to give him a big cuddle. But he’s so lovely as you know. He’s such a gentle soul.”
Karen’s heartwarming remarks about her friendship with Carlos come after the dancer credited her for “changing his life”.
He said during Saturday night’s final: “She changed my life. She’s the best thing I’ve ever had in 2025. I came to Strictly after competitive life, I was self-centred, I was ‘me, me, me.’
“I’ve been lost for years… no wonder I didn’t get a partner last year because I was not grateful,” Carlos said, referring to how he wasn’t given a celebrity partner for the 2024 series of Strictly.
Host Claudia Winkleman disagreed with Carlos, but he interjected, saying: “I need to finish….[Karen] taught me how to be a kind humble person, and for the first time, I learnt how to be a team player. I never used to be a team player, which I am so sad about.”
Claudia then kindly reassured him: “You’ve always been a team player, and we love you!”
Not long after Carlos’ heartbreaking admission, the duo were announced as the winners of Strictly 2025.
They closed the BBC show with their favourite dance, a football-themed Jive to One Way or Another by Blondie, which received a perfect score of 40 from the judges.
Karen looked taken aback when the result was confirmed by Claudia and co-host Tess Daly, with the star telling viewers: “I cannot believe it. I want to say thank you to everybody who has supported my journey.”
She then turned to Carlos and said: “Thank you to this wonderful gentleman, we are a team. I could not have done this without you.”
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