Karen Carney is the fourteenth celebrity to be announced for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing. The multi-award-winning entertainment show, produced by BBC Studios, will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.

Karen Carney is a former footballer who played for Chelsea, Arsenal, Birmingham City and England, and is now the lead female pundit for both men’s and women’s football, across TNT and ITV.

With 144 caps, Karen is England’s third most-capped player, competing at four World Cups, four European Championships and the London Olympics before retiring in 2019. Aside from her incredible playing and broadcast career, Karen has secured a name for herself as a trailblazer in the advancement of women in sport. In 2022 she began leading a landmark government review with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, into the ‘Future of Women’s Football’ in the UK, every recommendation of which was successfully backed by the government in 2023. In the same year, she also hosted the ITV series Leaders of the Pack which saw her have candid conversations with key figures in women’s international football.

Karen made history at the men’s World Cup 2022 as part of the first all-female line-up to analyse a men’s football game. Summer 2024 saw her lead the ITV coverage of the men’s Euros, including the nail-biting final between England and Spain. She again led the way for ITV in both of the Lionesses’ 2022 and 2025 historic women’s Euro wins. Karen was awarded an MBE in 2017, and an OBE in 2024, for services to association football.

She also co-hosts the Long Story Short podcast with fellow England alumni and best friend Jill Scott, which is a hilarious and nostalgic delve into the stories of their friendship, through their football years and beyond.

On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Karen Carney says: “It really is a dream come true to be a part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line up. I’m such a huge fan of the show and I can’t believe I’m finally getting the chance to take part. I’m so excited to meet everyone and get dancing!”

The news was revealed on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show this morning, guest hosted by Gary Davies.

Strictly Come Dancing is a BBC Studios Entertainment production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC. The Executive Producer is Sarah James, the Series Editors are Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Jo Wallace.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this autumn. Add Strictly to your watchlist on BBC iPlayer now.

 

GK

Follow for more