Quick Read
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu earned their first perfect scores (tens from all judges) in Week 10 of Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
- Their Couple’s Choice dance to Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ was highly praised by the judges.
- In the Instant Dance challenge, Carney and Gu struggled, earning only one extra point for their cha cha cha.
- Lewis Cope and Katya Jones topped the leaderboard after winning the Instant Dance challenge.
- Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin also received perfect scores, finishing first overall with bonus points.
Karen Carney’s Journey: From Football Pitch to Ballroom Glitz
There’s something electric about watching someone step into the unknown and shine. Karen Carney, once celebrated on the football pitch as a Lioness, has become one of the most talked-about celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025. Week after week, Carney and her partner Carlos Gu have danced their way into viewers’ hearts, but it was Week 10 that truly marked a turning point for her journey.
On Saturday night at the Elstree studios, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. The BBC’s flagship dance competition unveiled its new Instant Dance challenge, putting every couple’s adaptability under the spotlight. Here, the stars didn’t just rely on rehearsed choreography; instead, they picked a dance style at random, with only seconds to plan and execute their moves on live television. It was chaos, excitement, and raw talent on full display.
Week 10: Perfect Scores and Sudden Twists
For Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, Week 10 started on a high. The duo delivered a show-stopping Couple’s Choice performance to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” The judges responded with tens across the board — Carney’s first perfect scores in the competition. Craig Revel Horwood was effusive, telling Carney, “That dance just got you into the Champions League darling.” Motsi Mabuse added, “Karen, you did your paso last week and I was like ‘can that get any better?’ But, girl, honestly, this was just everything. This is the step up. This is the next level. This is what I’m talking about. Congratulations.”
But celebration quickly turned to tension as the Instant Dance challenge began. Couples rushed backstage to choose costumes, then returned with only 10 seconds to decide how to approach their surprise dance style. Carney and Gu drew the cha cha cha — a style known for its fast footwork and cheeky attitude. Despite their earlier triumph, the pair struggled in the chaos, finishing sixth in the Instant Dance and earning just one extra point.
This twist demonstrated how quickly fortunes can change on Strictly. While Carney’s technical prowess and performance skills have grown week by week, the unpredictability of live competition remains a constant challenge.
Leaderboard Dynamics: Climbing and Competing
The leaderboard tells the story of a fiercely competitive season. After Week 10, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin led with 44 points, thanks to their own perfect scores and a strong samba in the Instant Dance. Lewis Cope and Katya Jones followed with 42, having won the Instant Dance challenge outright — a jive that judge Shirley Ballas described as a risk worth taking. Karen Carney and Carlos Gu landed third with 41 points, tied in second place for their standard dance but slipping in the bonus round.
Looking back over previous weeks, Carney’s progress is clear. In Week 9, she scored 39 points, just behind Cope and Davies. Earlier in the competition, her scores fluctuated — from a strong start of 31 in Week 1, dropping to 20 in Week 2, then steadily improving with each performance. By Week 6, she had achieved 38 points, signaling her growing confidence and skill.
Yet, the leaderboard is about more than numbers. Each week, the judges’ comments have reflected Carney’s transformation. Where once she appeared cautious, now she brings energy, precision, and emotional storytelling to each routine. The narrative is not just about a footballer learning to dance, but about embracing vulnerability, thriving under pressure, and pushing boundaries in front of millions.
Instant Dance: A Test of Nerves and Creativity
The introduction of the Instant Dance challenge was a game-changer. Couples faced the unknown — a dance style and song revealed in real time, with mere seconds to prepare. Head Judge Shirley Ballas described it as “the power to change everything for our couples,” emphasizing how close and unpredictable this season has become.
For Carney, the challenge underscored the importance of adaptability. Her earlier perfect performance was almost overshadowed by the scramble of the bonus round. The pressure to improvise, the speed of decision-making, and the need to maintain composure all combined to create an intensely competitive environment. Other couples, like Lewis Cope and Katya Jones, thrived, earning six bonus points and clinching the top spot for the week. Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin also impressed, securing four extra points for their samba.
Meanwhile, the leaderboard’s lower half saw Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe struggle, with a modest 23 points and three extra for their rumba, while Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon managed to climb a couple spots with a strong paso doble in the Instant Dance.
What’s Next for Karen Carney?
With the competition heating up, every performance counts. Carney’s resilience and ability to learn from setbacks have made her a standout contestant. The judges’ feedback suggests she has the technical foundation and the charisma to go further, but the unpredictable challenges — like the Instant Dance — will continue to test her limits.
As viewers tune in for the results show and look ahead to the next round, the question remains: Can Karen Carney convert her momentum into a place in the final? Will her athletic discipline and growing artistic flair help her rise above the rest in the weeks to come?
Whatever happens, her story is one of transformation — from football star to ballroom contender, showing that the journey matters as much as the destination.
Assessment: Karen Carney’s performance in Week 10 of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is a testament to her adaptability and growth. While she achieved a personal milestone with perfect scores, the Instant Dance challenge exposed the volatility of live competition. The facts show that success in Strictly demands not just technical skill, but resilience under pressure — and Carney, with her sporting background, is well-positioned to meet these challenges head-on. Her journey remains one to watch as the competition enters its final stages.