Karen Carney delighted fans as she told them she was ‘back on the dancefloor’ months after winning Strictly

Strictly Come Dancing stars Karen Carney and Luba Mushtuk(Image: Karen Carney Instagram)

Karen Carney has told fans she was ‘back on the dancefloor’ months after winning Strictly Come Dancing as she reunited with one of her former co-stars after they announced their exit from the popular programme.

Those who followed the BBC One dance contest last year know that the former footballer emegered victorious during the final of Strictly’s 2025 series in December alongside her professional dance partner, Carlos Gu.

Lioness Karen showed what she was capable of during week one of the competition, when she became the first footballer to top the leaderboard in 18 years. She then made history once more when she became the first footballer to win the show, with her and Carlos beating off competiton from fellow finalists Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, and George Clarke and Alexis Warr.

After she was announced as the winner following an emotional final, Karen said: “I can’t believe it. I just want to say thank you to everybody that has supported our journey, and supported us. Thank you to this wonderful gentleman, we are a team and I couldn’t have done it without you. It’s been the biggest privilege and honour. I’m literally lost for words, I’m so sorry.”

While she couldn’t join the Strictly Come Dancing Live 2026 tour, which took place earlier this year, it seems Karen doesn’t want to stop dancing and took an opportunity to join former show pro Luba Mushtuk’s latest dance class, which came days after she confirmed her exit from Strictly.

Karen was back dancing with Strictly pro Luba, who recently announced her exit from the show(Image: Karen Carney Instagram)

The professional dancer has been part of the BBC One dance show’s line-up since 2016, and has parterned a number of celebrities including actor Adam Thomas and presenter Nick Knowles.

But on Friday (March 27), Luba became the third dancer to confirm their departure from Strictly ahead of the 2026 series, which is currently without hosts after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down at the end of the 2025 series in December.

Sharing pictures of herself and Luba reuniting in the dance studio, Karen shared on Instagram: “Reunited @lubamushtuk. Back on a dance floor and had the best time at her class.” And the reunion left fans delighted.

@rozsiviter said: “Awww love this, dancing queeeeen.” @elise.brooks_ commented: “Thank god you’re back on a dance floor!!!” @strictlyscarlos wrote: “Love that your back dancing.” @annaspeckham posted: “Never seen a celeb immerse themselves in Strictly the way you have, love it.”

@lizzy.strictly shared: “This is so cute! Glad to see you two reunite!” @rugbyfanann added: “Wonderful photo, you look so happy back on a dance floor again, but we all know how much you love to dance. so sad Strictly’s loosing Luba.”

As mentioned, Luba was the third dancer to have confirmed their departure at the time, with it already announced that Karen Hauer and Nadiya Bychkova would be leaving Strictly, after 14 and nine years respectively on the show, while Michelle Tsiakkas has since addressed her own departure after four years.