Strictly winner Karen Carney says she’s been ‘rebuilt’ by the show after being ‘crushed by the pundit space’ after becoming the first footballer in history to lift the glitterball

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Karen Carney, winner of Strictly Come Dancing, says the show helped her rediscover herself after years of feeling overwhelmed and disheartened by her job as a sports commentator.

Former England footballer Abbey Clancy, age 38, achieved a historic win on Saturday, becoming the first athlete to win the glitterball trophy on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ with her partner, Carlos Gu.

Before joining Strictly Come Dancing, Karen revealed she had been badly trolled online for her work as a sports commentator. She’d previously provided commentary for TNT Sports on Premier League games, as well as for ITV during the men’s and women’s World Cup and Euros.

After her incredible victory, Karen shared that being on Strictly Come Dancing helped her regain her confidence. She said it was the first time in decades she’d felt genuinely encouraged and supported.

Karen and Carlos didn’t have a smooth path to victory on Strictly. While they started strong, leading after the first week with their jive, Karen faced challenges and struggled for several weeks afterwards.

Their Halloween performance – a Peaky Blinders-themed Argentine Tango – proved to be a turning point, and they ultimately won the competition during the live final.

Karen recently shared with The Telegraph that working as a commentator has been incredibly difficult for the past five or six years. She explained it felt like a lifetime of being told ‘no’ – being discouraged from pursuing things since she was a child. She wondered why she was consistently met with negativity.

When I retired and began offering my opinions, people immediately told me I shouldn’t, couldn’t, or questioned why I was doing it. I didn’t understand how much that negativity would affect me. Then, surprisingly, I received positive feedback early on, which felt new after thirty years. I just wasn’t prepared to handle it.

I got a lot of questions about why I chose such a high-pressure show when I was trying to regain my confidence. But I genuinely love the show, and it’s always felt like a comfortable and supportive environment for me. Deep down, I just knew it was the right place to start over.

When Tess and Claudia revealed she’d won, Karen was so surprised she could only embrace her professional dance partner, Carlos.

I’m still reeling from this! I just want everyone to know how grateful I am for all the support we’ve received throughout this whole journey. Seriously, thank you to everyone who believed in us, and a special thank you to Carlos – he’s been amazing.

I’m incredibly grateful to this team – I couldn’t have achieved this without your support. Honestly, I’m overwhelmed and speechless with gratitude, and I apologize for being at a loss for words.

After winning, Karen shared a thank you message to her fans on Instagram, posting a picture of herself with Carlos and the winning trophy.

They said: ‘Hi everybody! We did it!

We’re truly amazed and incredibly grateful for all your support, votes, and kind messages. It means the world to both Carlos and me.

‘So thank you. Thank you so much.’

Before the winner was revealed, Tess and Claudia were honored with a video tribute showcasing the best moments from this year’s show.

Everyone was completely surprised and delighted when Craig Revel Horwood shared a special letter from The Queen.

To Tess and Claudia, as you get ready for your last dance, I want to express our gratitude – and the gratitude of the millions of viewers who enjoy watching you every week.

I’ve always believed that ‘Strictly’ isn’t really about the dancing itself, but more about the connections people make, the challenges they face together, and the happiness they find in working towards a common goal.

If that’s the case, your connection has been the most remarkable collaboration we’ve seen. The genuine warmth, kindness, and joy you share have been essential to the show’s success.

We all agree you’ve been amazing! We wish you the best in everything you do next, and as someone who knows how wonderful it is, please promise you’ll keep dancing.

‘With the warmest gratitude and admiration, Her Royal Highness, Queen Camilla.’

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2025-12-23 03:34