Karen Carney, a former England footballer, shared her experiences and challenges as she prepares for the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2025. Competing alongside her dance partner Carlos Gu, Carney revealed that she faced a stern warning from BBC executives after attempting to circumvent a crucial regulation regarding footwear during the competition.
In a candid conversation with Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill during a November episode of the Gold Minds podcast, Carney expressed her struggles adapting to the dance show’s glamorous yet challenging attire. The high-heeled shoes, which are a staple for the performances, have posed significant difficulties for the 38-year-old competitor.
Carney’s impressive debut in the competition featured her performing in flat shoes, which she found much more comfortable. “I think the Jive, the first dance, even the shoes were like football boots,” she explained. “So it was really comfortable and I was really comfortable in them… like, the last three dances, I’ve been in heels.”
Jessica inquired about the toll that dancing in heels takes on Carney, noting that even casual outings in such footwear can be painful. Carney responded, “Oh yeah, honestly, that in itself is like… my heels for last week didn’t come until the day before, so I’d only had a bit of time with them.”
In an effort to ease her discomfort, Carney admitted she pleaded with the producers to allow her to perform one dance in her comfortable black shoes. Unfortunately, the response was clear: “if you wear your black shoes, which would look horrendous, you will get marked down.” She reflected on this interaction, saying, “I was thinking, ‘yeah, but if I felt more comfortable and I dance better, would the marking actually balance itself out?’ But they were like, ‘you cannot, it’s like, the rules, you’ve got to wear them’.”
Despite the challenges, Carney has captivated both the judges and the viewing audience with her performances. Throughout the competition, she has experienced a significant boost in her self-confidence, which she attributes to her journey on the show. “For probably the last five or six years I’ve been open and honest about how I’ve been crushed quite a lot in terms of my confidence,” she stated. “Part of me was like, ‘if I could ever get the opportunity to throw myself into what I felt would be my heart, I knew that Strictly would be the thing that would fix me.'”
As the final approaches, Carney and Gu will compete against other talented pairs, including George Clarke and Alexis Warr, as well as Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, all vying for the coveted Glitterball trophy. The Strictly Come Dancing final is scheduled to air tonight at 19:00 on BBC One and iPlayer, promising an exciting conclusion to the season.
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