Karen Hauer admits she 'doesn't miss' Strictly following axe
Karen left the show this yearKaren Hauer has revealed she does not miss Strictly Come Dancing after walking away from the BBC show.
The former professional dancer will also miss the revamped series launch as she is currently performing on stage.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Karen opened up about her new routine, describing life away from Strictly as calmer and more positive.
The comments come after Karen’s departure from Strictly Come Dancing, bringing her 14-year run as a professional dancer to an end. She was the show’s longest-serving professional before the line-up reshuffle.
Karen Hauer explains why she does not miss Strictly
Karen explained that being part of Strictly required complete commitment throughout every series. Once the process began, professionals could not simply decide to take a day off.
While the discipline gave her plenty of treasured memories, she admitted the workload could be intense.
“For 14 years I was locked in, and that’s what I wanted… You can’t go in halfway, and that’s what all the pros do, and that’s why it’s so intense. You can’t go, ‘Well, I’m going to take the day off today’ – it doesn’t work like that, and it doesn’t work like that in any job either way. I was locked in and disciplined,” she said.
Despite looking back fondly on her time on the show, Karen admitted she does not miss being caught up in its demanding schedule.
“I have some great memories from Strictly, but do I miss being in it? No. I like having a little less stress and a little bit more time,” she said.
Why Karen Hauer will not watch the Strictly launch
Karen knows exactly what the new Strictly celebrities and professionals are about to face.
‘I know the process, and I know how hard it is. I love seeing the new trailers, and it’s great seeing that energy, but I’m loving my time now. I feel very positive’
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the show’s new presenting trio. Karen is keen to see how they handle their first night.
However, there is a simple reason she will not be watching the launch from home.
Karen is currently touring in Stepping Out, where she plays dance teacher Mavis in the stage production. She will therefore be performing when the Strictly launch airs.
The theatre role came just weeks after Strictly’s professional line-up changes and has helped keep Karen busy during a major career adjustment.
She admitted that she has barely felt as though she has stopped since leaving the BBC show.
Karen credited her close friends, partner Simon Davidson and her dogs with helping her through the change. Her current schedule also gives her the live connection with audiences that she enjoys, with theatre and performing regularly having always appealed to her.
Could Karen Hauer return to Strictly?
Although Karen is enjoying life without the weekly pressure of Strictly, she has not completely ruled out returning to the programme one day.
She said she would be open to an opportunity elsewhere on the show, including potentially taking on a judging role. For now, however, she is happy to see what opportunities come her way.
“If an opportunity like that comes, I will welcome it,” she added.
Karen still has plenty of affection for Strictly and values everything she learned during her 14 years as a professional.
For now, her attention is firmly on Stepping Out rather than watching the launch from home. She is still interested in seeing how the revamped show feels with its new hosts.
Karen highlighted Emma’s experience, Josh’s humour and Johannes’ inside knowledge as particular strengths.
And when it comes to life after Strictly, Karen already seems certain about one thing. She is feeling positive about what comes next.
Strictly airs tonight (Saturday, September 19) from 7.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
