Karen Carney has returned to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom alongside Carlos Gu, recreating the memorable football-themed routine that helped launch their winning journey last year.
The former England football star, who lifted the Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball Trophy in the previous series, made a special comeback during the 2026 launch show.
Joined once again by professional dancer Carlos Gu, Karen brought back the jive that first introduced viewers to their partnership — complete with their instantly recognisable football-inspired outfits.
Karen Carney and Carlos Gu Recreate Their Famous Jive
Karen and Carlos returned to the dancefloor during Saturday night’s Strictly launch, performing the jive they originally danced during the opening week of their winning series.
The routine was performed to Blondie’s One Way or Another, the same track associated with their first appearance in the competition.
The pair also performed the routine during last year’s grand finale, making the latest performance a nostalgic moment for Strictly fans.
First-look images showed Karen and Carlos throwing themselves into the energetic routine while wearing football-inspired costumes. Streamers added to the celebratory atmosphere as the reigning champions enjoyed another moment in the ballroom.
Karen Carney Says She Feels at Home
Following the performance, Karen spoke about returning to the Strictly dancefloor and the special relationship she developed with Carlos during their series.
Her return comes almost a year after she first stepped into the competition as a complete newcomer to the world of ballroom dancing.
Although she was known internationally for her football career, Karen’s Strictly journey introduced audiences to another side of her personality.
Her partnership with Carlos quickly became one of the storylines of the previous series, eventually culminating in the pair winning the Glitterball.
Now, their surprise return has given fans an opportunity to see the reigning champions perform together one more time before a new group of celebrities begins its own Strictly journey.
Carlos Gu Reunites With the Reigning Champion
Carlos Gu is now preparing for another Strictly series, but his appearance alongside Karen gave him the chance to revisit one of the partnerships that defined his recent time on the BBC show.
The professional dancer will once again take part in the competition, this time partnering with actress Jaime Winstone.
His reunion with Karen therefore provided a nostalgic link between the previous Strictly series and the new 2026 competition.
Strictly 2026 Begins a New Era
Karen and Carlos’ return was part of a major launch show for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, which introduces several changes to the long-running BBC programme.
The new series has welcomed a fresh presenting team made up of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
They have taken over following the departures of longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, marking a significant change for the programme.
Johannes is also moving from his familiar role as a professional dancer into the presenting team, giving him a new position at the heart of the Strictly ballroom.
New Strictly Pairing Twist Revealed
The 2026 launch also introduced an unusual change to the way celebrity-professional partnerships are revealed.
Instead of simply announcing the couples individually, the celebrities and professionals discovered their pairings through specially choreographed group routines.
The format saw dancers move around the floor before the final partnerships were revealed, creating an element of surprise for both the contestants and viewers.
The new approach added another layer of excitement to a launch already packed with changes.
Five New Professional Dancers Join Strictly
Strictly has also expanded its professional line-up for the new series.
Five new dancers have joined the BBC programme:
- Aleksandra Isaeva
- Cristian Priori
- Lethabo Monametsi
- Maddie Ingoldsby
- Mark Karmalita
The newcomers join the established professional dancers as they prepare to train this year’s celebrity contestants.
Their introduction marks another major change as Strictly moves into its 24th series.
Karen Carney’s Strictly Legacy Continues
Karen’s return also serves as a reminder of how dramatically her Strictly journey transformed her public profile.
Before appearing on the BBC dance show, she was best known for her distinguished football career. Her Strictly appearance allowed viewers to see her tackle a completely different discipline.
Together with Carlos, she went from learning ballroom and Latin routines to lifting the Glitterball Trophy.
Her latest performance gave fans a final chance to see the reigning champions back together before the new contestants take centre stage.
What’s Next for Strictly Come Dancing 2026?
With Karen Carney and Carlos Gu completing their special comeback performance, attention now turns towards the new celebrity partnerships.
The 2026 cast includes familiar television and entertainment names, including Dani Dyer, Lacey Turner, Delta Goodrem, Melanie Walters and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The live competition will now give the new couples their opportunity to impress the judges and Strictly viewers.
For Karen, however, the pressure is off. She has already secured her place in Strictly history.
Her return with Carlos was less about competition and more about celebrating the routine and partnership that took her all the way to the Glitterball Trophy.
And for Strictly fans, seeing Karen Carney and Carlos Gu back on the dancefloor was a glittering reminder of last year’s unforgettable series.
The source of this news is The Standard.