There have been few Strictly journeys as impressive as Karen Carney’s.
Indeed, the BBC’s football pundit has made no secret of her tomboy-ish ways – after all, she was more used to smashing a ball into the back of a net than performing dainty dance steps.
But on Saturday the former Lioness waltzed her way to victory as she picked up the Glitterball – despite starting the competition as one of the underdogs.
Fighting back tears as hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced that she and her professional partner Carlos Gu had beaten West End dancer Amber Davies and favourite George Clarke, Karen, 38, was stunned to learn she had won.
Aptly dressed in a football kit, she said: ‘I cannot believe it. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has followed our journey and supported us.’
In a grateful nod to Carlos, she added: ‘Thank you to this wonderful gentleman – we are a team and I couldn’t have done it without you.
‘But, honestly, it’s been the biggest privilege and honour, and I am literally lost for words.’
Ex-Lioness Karen Carney roared to Strictly victory as she lifted the Glitterball trophy on Saturday while Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman waltzed off with tribute from Queen Camilla
It was an emotional show for another reason – and some of the millions watching at home may have shed a tear as Tess and Claudia bid their farewells in what was their last ever live show
It was quite the triumph for Karen, for throughout the series she has been struggling with Scheuermann’s disease, a condition that causes excessive spinal curvature, which she has had since she was a child.
And even though Amber topped the leader board with 118 points, the audience vote meant that Karen pipped her to the post, despite gaining only 117 out of a total 120 points from the judges – the same as George.
It was an emotional show for another reason – and some of the millions watching at home may have shed a tear as Tess and Claudia bid their farewells in what was their last ever live show.
The duo had announced in October they were waltzing off to pastures new.
But while they were careful not to take the shine off of the winner – or, indeed, the finalists – it was impossible to ignore their imminent departure. Claudia even tried to deflect attention by insisting: ‘Tonight is all about the finalists.’
Even when the judges bid their farewells, the pair held it together, although it all became a little too much when they were praised in an emotional montage by their off-screen colleagues and celebrities including Mary Berry.
Fighting back tears, Tess said: ‘Thank you all for your lovely words and for your incredible support that you’ve shown us.’
Claudia added: ‘We’ve loved being a part of the show – it’s been an absolutely privilege… spending our weekend with you.’
In a grateful nod to Carlos, she added: ‘Thank you to this wonderful gentleman – we are a team and I couldn’t have done it without you’
It was quite the triumph for Karen, for throughout the series she has been struggling with Scheuermann’s disease, a condition that causes excessive spinal curvature
Aptly dressed in a football kit, she said: ‘I cannot believe it. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has followed our journey and supported us’
Karen’s first dance was a tango to Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, for which she scored 37
Even when the judges bid their farewells, the pair held it together, although it all became a little too much when they were praised in an emotional montage by their off-screen colleagues and celebrities
But one superfan watching at home was not going to let them go without making a small fuss.
Queen Camilla shared a special message for the BBC’s first ever all female presenting pair. Tess, 56, and Claudia, 53, welled up as judge Craig Revel Horwood read out a message from the Queen, which had remained a surprise for the hosts, who were each handed an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours this summer.
It read: ‘Dear Tess and Claudia, as you prepare to take your final twirl, I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of the millions who watch you each week.
‘I have often thought that Strictly is not so much a show about dancing as about friendships – the bonds forged, the struggles overcome and the joy shared in undertaking a joint endeavour. If that is true, then perhaps yours has been the greatest Strictly partnership of all.
‘The warmth, compassion and sheer happiness you have radiated with and from each other has been at the heart of the show’s success. I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous.
‘I wish you both every success in wherever life’s journey takes you next. But as one who has appreciated its lifelong benefits, do promise us one thing: Keeeeeeeep dancing! With warmest gratitude and admiration, Camilla R’.
Camilla wasn’t the only royal to share her appreciation for the show -– she was joined by the Duchess of Edinburgh, who delivered a brief video message as part of a compilation of tributes to Ellie Goldstein, 24 – the show’s first contestant with Down’s syndrome.
‘I’m Patron of Mencap and Ellie is one of our amazing supporters,’ she said. ‘She has dispelled quite a number of perceptions of people with learning disabilities.’
The final got off to an energetic start, with trained dancer Amber Davies, 29, and her partner Nikita Kuzmin dancing a paso doble to Dream On by Aerosmith, for which they won 39 out of 40, with Craig Revel Horwood giving them nine points, while fellow judges Motsi Mabuse, Anton du Beke and Shirley Ballas each giving ten.
Next was a show dance to Rain On Me by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, for which they got 39. They later got a perfect 40 for a jive to Proud Mary by Tina Turner.
George, 26, was second on the bill with a Viennese waltz to Somebody To Love by Queen for the judges’ choice dance, for which he won 39 out of 40.
Even though Amber Davies topped the leader board with 118 points, the audience vote meant that Karen pipped her to the post
Their show dance to Rain On Me by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande earnt them 39 points
George, 26, was second on the bill with a Viennese waltz to Somebody To Love by Queen for the judges’ choice dance, for which he won 39 out of 40
Then he did his show dance to Human by The Killers, for garnered 39 points
It read: ‘Dear Tess and Claudia, as you prepare to take your final twirl, I just wanted to say thank you on behalf of the millions who watch you each week’
Claudia even displayed a message to fans by turning around to reveal the words ‘Keep dancing’ emblazoned across the back of her black blazer
Then he did his show dance to Human by The Killers, for garnered 39 points. Once again, he missed out on a top score by one point for his paso doble to Game Of Survival by Ruelle.
Third was Karen, whose first dance – the judges’ pick – was a tango to Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, for which she scored 37, then her show dance to Inner Smile by Texas.
Finally, she got 40 for her finale, a jive to Blondie’s One Way Or Another. As the final credits rolled, so did Tess and Claudia’s tears as they clung to one another. It certainly marked the end of an era.
Emotions finally got the better of Claudia, who said tearfully: ‘Thank you so much to our entire cast and to the best team ever. We love you all.’
Tess added: ‘We really do. Most importantly from both of us, thank you at home for watching – it’s been such and honour and an absolute pleasure sharing this with you.’
Claudia even displayed a message to fans by turning around to reveal the words ‘Keep dancing’ emblazoned across the back of her black blazer.
As one BBC insider said of the duo’s departure last night: ‘Strictly is going to look very different next year.’
