Who is Carlos Gu? Meet the Strictly Come Dancing professional paired with Karen Carney
Carlos joined the Strictly Come Dancing professionals in 2022.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 has been a competition like no other, and now we've only got one instalment left with the final this weekend.
Heading onto the dance floor one final time this season is professional dancer Carlos Gu alongside his celebrity partner, former professional footballer Karen Carney.
This weekend the finalists will perform three exceptional routines; audiences can expect the return of the Showdance, as well as an additional two performances that the judges and the contestants themselves have picked out to perform from their time on the show.
Karen gushed about her dance partner to RadioTimes.com ahead of the final, saying: "Carlos is amazing person, and for me, [that's] the most important thing as a partner...He's a wonderful person. He's [a] fantastic dancer."
Here's everything you need to know about professional dancer Carlos Gu ahead of this year's final.
Who is Carlos Gu?
Age: 32
Job: Professional dancer and choreographer
From: Taiyuan, China
Partner: Karen Carney
Carlos Gu joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 as one of four new professionals that year, alongside Vito Coppola, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas.
The dancer boasts a number of big achievements: Gu is the Chinese National Dance Champion and a multiple world semi-finalist.
In addition, he came third at the German Open Championship and, in 2017, he became the UK's Amateur Latin Rising Star Runner Up.
How old is Carlos Gu?
Carlos Gu is 32 years old.
Is Carlos Gu on social media?
He is! Carlos is fairly active on social media and can be followed on Instagram via @gkx_carlos.
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What has Carlos Gu said about Strictly Come Dancing?
When he joined the show last year, Carlos said: "I'm thrilled to join Strictly and very excited to get started.
"It's a new chapter of my life and a new challenge as well. I’m absolutely ready to take on this journey and to shine."
Who is Carlos paired with on Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Carlos Gu is paired with Lioness Karen Carney on Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 20th December at 7pm.
Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a Freelance Writer who covers pop culture and entertainment programmes for the Radio Times. She previously worked as the Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab where she managed its local department. She obtained a BA (Hons) in English Literature from University of Nottingham.
