Former Lioness and now broadcaster Karen Carney won the 2025 edition of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night, partnering professional Carlos Gu to the glitterball.
And two current Arsenal stars made cameo appearances ahead of the result.
Alessia Russo and Kim Little sent a good luck message to Carney via video – both wearing Gunners Christmas jumpers.
“Kaz, you’ve been amazing – one final push,” said Russo.
Karen Carney: her scores in Strictly Come Dancing final
And evidently the positive vibes paid off.
Carney and Gu danced three times on Saturday, repeating their Argentine tango to Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, receiving a perfect 40 from the judging panel.
Their show dance to Inner Smile by Texas was the lowest-scored dance of the night, receiving 37.
And then their final dance of the series was their jive to One Way or Another by Blondie, which picked up 40 points.
Carney: It’s the greatest gift
However, the judges’ scores were just for guidance, and all the contestants were reliant on the public vote.
“It’s the greatest gift that anyone could ever give you,” Carney said after the final dance.
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“She changed my life. I think she’s the best thing I ever had in 2025. I came to Strictly after competitive life – I was self-centred, I was me-me-me…She taught me how to be a kind, humble person, and for the first time I learned to be a team player,” said Gu.
And on social media afterwards, plenty more football stars added their congratulations.
“What a hero, never in doubt Kazza! Once a champ always a champ. Congrats to you both,” wrote Arsenal and England’s Beth Mead.
Anita Asante – who was in Arsenal’s 2007 UEFA Women’s Champions League-winning squad alongside Carney – wrote: “Yesss Kazza! Massive congratulations. You absolutely smashed it!”
And Jill Scott – a former reality TV champion herself after winning I’m A Celebrity in 2022 – wrote: “So deserved.”
