Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell has made a bold prediction for this year's series, naming her winner weeks before the grand final is due to take place.
Buswell Backs Birmingham's Favourite
The 36-year-old dancer is firmly backing former Birmingham City and England footballer Karen Carney to lift the coveted Glitterball trophy. The final of the hit BBC show is scheduled for Saturday, 20 December 2025.
Speaking on her podcast, Winning Isn't Everything, Buswell admitted she was 'jumping the gun' with her early declaration. However, she insisted that Carney has 'dominated' the competition and possesses a 'very, very strong chance of winning'.
A Lucky Connection to a Past Champion
Buswell revealed an intriguing link between Karen Carney and her own former Strictly partner, the 2024 winner Chris McCausland. The comedian and the footballer are, by sheer coincidence, former neighbours.
'It's looking very good for Karen Carney,' said Buswell. 'If she goes on to win it... that road wherever Chris lives right now I feel like he should turn it into a museum.'
She jokingly suggested dubbing it 'the 11/11 museum' as a source of good luck for future contestants. Chris McCausland himself confirmed the connection during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine, explaining they shared a communal garden during lockdown.
Bookies' Favourite and Public Sentiment
Buswell's prediction aligns with the current betting odds, where Karen Carney is also the bookmakers' favourite to win the series. McCausland echoed the sentiment of Carney's journey embodying the spirit of Strictly, highlighting her progress from novice to contender.
'Karen Carney is what the show is about,' he stated. 'She's coming in, learning, had her ups and downs, she's really thriving.' He added with humour that having two consecutive Strictly winners from the same road would certainly 'put the house prices up'.
With the final still weeks away, this early endorsement from an insider adds significant momentum to Karen Carney's campaign for the Glitterball trophy.
