Strictly Come Dancing viewers have expressed serious concern for contestant Karen Carney, with many claiming the former footballer has been 'set up' for an untimely exit from the competition.
Bottom of the Leaderboard at Crucial Stage
The alarm was raised after Karen Carney and her professional partner Carlos Gu found themselves at the foot of the leaderboard following the quarter-final performances on Saturday, 6th December 2025. Their Samba routine earned scores of two 8s and two 9s, giving them a total of 36 points.
This places them in a vulnerable position ahead of the public vote, despite Carney being a previous favourite to win the Glitterball Trophy. The low score comes at a critical juncture, with the competition now at its quarter-final stage.
Mixed Judging Feedback and Fan Reaction
Head judge Shirley Ballas offered strong praise, telling Carney she was "quite the force to be reckoned with" and that her "sense of balance was off the chart". However, fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood noted she appeared "a little stiff in the body", even while complimenting her "out of this world" spinning.
The reaction from the show's fanbase was one of immediate concern and mobilisation. One viewer took to social media to state: "I loved the whole Hippy vibe in Karen's Samba but it's clear the producers are trying to set her up for a fall here. WE NEED TO VOTE FOR HER!!!!!"
Another supporter echoed the sentiment, writing: "I love Karen but this dance gets me worried tonight... so vote Karen!" A third fan pointed to the technical difficulty of the Samba, adding: "I really hope she's not in the dance off."
Health Battle and Leaderboard Standings
Carney has been open about managing Scheuermann's disease, a spinal condition that causes curvature and impacted her throughout her football career with Birmingham City and the England Women's team.
The current Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard now shows:
- Karen Carney and Carlos Gu at the bottom with 36 points.
- Lewis Cope, Balvinder Sopal and George Clarke all tied in second-last place with 37 points each.
- Amber Davies holds the top spot after achieving a perfect score of 40.
All eyes will now be on the public vote and Sunday night's results show to see if Karen Carney can avoid the dreaded dance-off and continue her Strictly journey.
