Fans were left speechless by ex-Lioness Karen Carney’s stunning performance on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evening.
The former Arsenal star made her dancing debut on the popular prime-time BBC One show alongside her professional partner Carlos Gu – and she didn’t disappoint.
Having waited the entire show for her moment, Carney was last onto the dancefloor and performed a football-inspired Jive which left the judges amazed.
‘I just have to be honest here. I have never seen anything like that. The compactness in your centre, keeping everything close to your centre and pump, pump, pump, pump,’ Motsi Mabuse praised.
‘You are giving it all. It felt like this is the last dance you’ll ever dance ever. It was amazing, great show tonight.’
The performance earned Carney top spot for the night with an impressive 31 points. Incredibly, the 38-year-old became the first footballer to top a leader-board for some 18 years.
Karen Carney stunned Strictly Come Dancing fans with the Jive on Saturday
The ex-Lioness finished top of the leader-board – the first footballer to do so in 18 years
It was well and truly a night for the ex-footballers, with Jimmy Ffloyd Hasselbaink also impressing on his Strictly debut with his partner Lauren Oakley. They finished in third place with 27 points.
But it was ultimately Carney who stole the show, with a host of fans taking to X to praise the ex-England international.
‘Karen Carney absolutely smashing her first dance has sent the odds into chaos and I am HERE for it. Between her and Jimmy Ffloyd Hasselbaink, the footballer have come to play this year’, Daily Mail’s Laura Fox posted.
One stunned fan wrote: ‘Karen Carney producing this performance in week one and coming top of the leader-board? We’re in for an absolute treat this series for sure’.
While another praised her post-dance interview, writing: ‘Karen Carney – what a fabulously humble, professional woman. In a world full of people shouting “look at me me me” it’s so refreshing to hear someone say “thanks for having me”, “great crowd”, “everyone worked so hard”. You’d just know she’s a great team player. Respect.’
‘Hollldddd on. I feel like I’m joining the entire country in ripping up my Strictly predictions tonight because oh my god??? Karen Carney I am so sorry I was not aware of your game,’ another posted.
Yet for Carney’s ex-England team-mate Jill Scott, her performance wasn’t such a surprise.
In a resurfaced interview, the former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! winner admits ‘Kaz (Carney) can dance, it’s annoying!’
Jimmy Ffloyd Hasselbaink also impressed with his partner Lauren Oakley
Strictly fans took to X to express their shock at Carney’s impressive performance
In further praise for the surprising Strictly star, notoriously harsh judge Craig Revel Horwood described her performance as ‘ridiculous’.
‘Sometimes I don’t watch the celebrities, I end up watching the pros when they’re this good,’ he said.
‘And you can tell how good it’s going because the pros are going, ‘This is great!
‘That is the way to end a show with the best dance of the night. That is just ridiculous, I was not expecting any of that.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday with both Hasselbaink and Carney back in action.
