The former footballer and her professional partner Carlos Gu have made it to the Strictly 2025 final

 
Strictly Come Dancing’s Karen Carney and Carlos Gu(Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing fans have rushed to social media as they spotted Karen Carney’s ‘history-making’ move after she was revealed to have made it to the series final. The Lioness previously said that she was “really proud” to be the first footballer to make the semi-final stage of the hit dance show, before it was revealed on Sunday (December 14) that she is now the first footballer to make it through to a final of the BBC One dance show.

Ahead of Saturday’s (December 13) semi-final, Karen said: “Carlos has told me that quite a bit, he’s really proud actually, he’s like, ‘you’re the first footballer to make the semi-final’, so I think he was really excited, it was a big milestone, and yeah, I’m really proud.”

Carlos shared: “We made history, that’s incredible,” before Karen continued: “I might be the first footballer but it’s down to this guy (Gu), to be fair, he’s getting me there and pushing me, and I’m really grateful.”

It has now been confirmed that Karen and Carlos have made it through to the Strictly 2025 final, having topped the leaderboard during Saturday night’s (December 13) semi-final with a joint score of 78 out of a possible 80 for her two dances.

Karen and Carlos scored 39 for their waltz to One Moment In Time by Whitney Houston, and another 39 for their salsa to Turn The Beat Around by Vicki Sue Robinson, during the penultimate week of the BBC dancing programme. The pair were moved to tears after their first performance, with the judges also becoming emotional, as Karen remarked to her dance partner: “I just love this guy.”

Karen and Carlos performing during the semi-final(Image: PA)

Judge Anton Du Beke said of the waltz: “I got a bit emotional, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, I never thought you would be capable of doing that, I never thought for a second you could dance like that. I know what you can do, you can do crash bang wallop, I never thought you could do that quality, that softness, that sensitivity.”

Now, as their place in the Strictly final was confirmed alongside Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, and George Clarke and Alexis Warr, fans have rushed to social media.

@RyanSoapKing25 said: “The first footballer to reach a #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing Grand Final. KAREN CARNEY THE WOMAN YOU ARE.” @jlb26_ commented: “KAZ CARNEY OU ARE A STRICTLY FINALIST THE FIRST FOOTBALLER TO EVER MAKE THE FINAL.” @CHARITYDALES cheered: “KAREN CARNEY STRICTLY FINALIST COME ONNNN.” @sophiehrimell added: “Like I said from day one, Karen Carney is a finalist next week, winner of Strictly Come Dancing #StrictlyComeDancing.”