Karen Carney: ‘I never thought I’d be on Strictly. I don’t want the year to end’

Karen Carney’s quick feet helped her win 144 caps for England during her football career, while her sharp thinking saw her chair the Future of Women’s Football Review for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in 2022-23. But this year, she has been putting her best foot forward on Strictly Come Dancing.

Carney was the top scorer in the semi-finals, having impressed judges with her fast footwork and incredible spins, while earlier in the series Carney and partner Carlos Gu’s Peaky Blinders-inspired Argentine Tango was followed by one of the speediest Charlestons ever seen on the show. 

“The Peaky Blinders dance meant a lot – because it was a nod towards Birmingham as well,” says Carney, who played for Birmingham City at youth level before hitting the big time at Arsenal, during a quick break in her Strictly rehearsal schedule.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of the show, but you’re also a bit apprehensive about whether something you love is going to match your expectations. But I have to say, Strictly has surpassed it. It’s been a fantastic experience and I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be on such an iconic show. 

“We are like one big team. We know the outcome is out of our control, so all the couples support each other as best we can. That’s why it’s always so hard to lose someone at the weekend, because they’re our friends and we’re going through it with them.” 

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Do you have a cultural highlight of the year?

Oh, Celebrity Traitors was good. Alan [Carr] played an absolute blinder, didn’t he? And the final was wild. I thought Nick [Mohammed] had it but Alan’s done him a kipper! It’s like Strictly, in that it is for everybody, everyone talks about it – and if a show can bring that, it’s pretty cool.  

Would you rather be a Faithful or a Traitor?

I’d rather be a Faithful. But a lot of people have said that I might surprise people being a traitor, because people might not believe I could do it. 

What do you know about yourself you didn’t in January?

Confidence comes from within. Going back to my Strictly experience, I’ve been searching for the confidence I’ve been lacking over the last few years – particularly post-football career, when I was going into a new chapter of my life and figuring a lot of things out without football any more. Strictly makes you step out your comfort zone, where you’ve got to find the fire and confidence within yourself.  

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Did you see Oasis in 2025?

I didn’t manage to get tickets, I’m afraid. So I watched from afar at everybody else’s joy and all that Oasis gear they wore, which was quite funny. 

Was there music you loved this year?

I’ve got very eclectic music taste, I’m told. It can go from 60s music to R&B to modern pop hip-hop and really fast ravey music. But I’m a big fan of Texas. I’ve been to see them three or four times recently, and I’m friends with Sharlene [Spiteri], she came and watched me at Strictly, actually, so I’d like to give her a little shout out. Because she’s been really supportive. And she’s someone, and the band, that has been around for many years and just keep getting better and better. I watched her really closely two or three months ago and I just can’t believe how good she is.  

Are you Team Taylor or Team Charli XCX or Team CMAT?

I’m Team Everybody. I did go to a Taylor Swift concert last year but I don’t pick sides of battles or anything like that. 

What did you make of England’s footballing summer?

I was at the Euros final and afterwards I was pretty exhausted from broadcasting for about seven hours and the emotions of it. I’m really proud of how the women’s game is growing and getting the attention that it is. In terms of the Euros, for a team to win back-to-back tournaments – the first one on home soil but then to go and do it away and in a very different manner – I thought the team showed grit, determination and a mentality that is really inspiring. A lot of the time you see talent shine through. But for this one, you saw a determination and never-give-up attitude from the team that was really inspiring.  

Do you think your job could be at risk from AI?

I don’t think it’s down to AI, I just think you have to keep evolving in life. It’s a fast, ever-changing world so I’m conscious of that. 

Do you feel more or less hopeful than you did at the start of this year?

More hopeful. But I never thought I’d be on Strictly Come Dancing, so I don’t really want the year to end. Because that would mean this is over. So I don’t want to wish the year away. I think you should be present in the moment.  

What have been your personal highlights of 2025?

One of the recommendations from the review I did was that the players within WSL2 get PFA support. And it got accepted recently. Selfishly, it’s the first time I’ve probably admitted that I’m really proud of leading that and all the changes we’ve seen. It’s taken a lot of people a lot of time, but when I was explaining it to Carlos [Gu, her Strictly partner] a few weeks ago, he made me realise how proud I should be.  He gave me a massive high five.  Seeing it through his eyes, there was a realisation of what we’ve achieved, which was really sweet. 

What’s your big idea to make 2026 better than 2025?

My big idea would just be what I’ve realised from Strictly, which is that it is so important to be around people. I want to be involved with people and teams and really good people.  

Do you have a strange Christmas tradition?

I always have an advent calendar, that’s for sure. I already have one – I got it way back in October. I’m vegan and I like the NOMO one, this particular advent calendar, and it usually sells out. I don’t really care about presents or gifts, but I must have an advent calendar. It starts the Christmas season off right.  

What would your browsing history say about you this year?

There’s less football and more dancing. I’ve watched so many dancing videos! It’s sending the algorithms wild – ballroom has gone wild on my phone. I now follow loads more dancers and I’m obsessed with watching what they do. 

The Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One on Saturday December 20. The Long Story Short podcast with Karen Carney and Jill Scott is available now.

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