Fresh from her triumphant victory on Strictly Come Dancing 2025, former footballer Karen Carney has shared a surprisingly down-to-earth concern that is dominating her thoughts. The newly crowned champion confessed that her "biggest anxiety" now revolves around the festive season's most common task: buying Christmas presents.
From Glitterball to Gift Lists: A Champion's Normal Worries
Karen Carney and her professional dance partner Carlos Gu were crowned the winners of the BBC's flagship dance competition on Saturday, December 20. They secured the Glitterball Trophy after a nail-biting final, narrowly beating fellow finalists George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
Appearing on ITV's This Morning on Monday, December 22, the pair chatted with hosts Sian Welby and Craig Doyle about their life-changing win. Despite the seismic shift in her public profile, Karen, who began her career at Birmingham City FC, insisted she and Carlos plan to stay grounded.
"The experience is once in a lifetime but I think we'll just stay who we are, normal people," she stated. "We'll just continue our daily life like it was before. Maybe I'm naive and I haven't really gone out yet. My biggest anxiety now is getting Christmas presents. I've got to buy a lot for a lot of people."
A Historic Win and a Fond Farewell
Carney's victory marked a significant milestone, as she became the first-ever footballer to win Strictly Come Dancing. Overwhelmed by the public's support, she expressed her disbelief and gratitude during the final. "I can't believe it. I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us," she said.
She paid a heartfelt tribute to her partner, Carlos Gu, calling him a "wonderful gentleman" and emphasising their teamwork. In return, Carlos told Karen, "You changed my life," before sending an inspiring message to viewers: "To the girls and boys watching at home, dream big and be proud and never give up."
The final also served as the last hurrah for the show's iconic presenting duo. As reported, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman co-hosted the live weekend show together for the final time, having announced their departures in October after 21 and 11 years respectively. They will make their final appearance as a pair in a pre-recorded Strictly festive special airing on Christmas Day.
Dances That Secured the Victory
To clinch the title, Karen and Carlos performed three standout dances in the grand final:
- A Peaky Blinders-inspired Argentine Tango to 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, which earned a perfect score of 40 points from the judges.
- A Show Dance to 'Inner Smile' by Texas, which scored 37 points.
- Their favourite dance from the series: a football-themed Jive to Blondie's 'One Way or Another'.
The couple's relatable post-win focus on festive chores has resonated with fans, proving that even the newest Strictly royalty faces the same December pressures as everyone else.
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX at 10am. Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
