Yes, I'm allergic to gushing so she has a tendency to irritate.

Knows her onions though, no doubt about that.

I really like her but I completely understand why a lot of people find her irritating because I used to find her irritating as well .I didn't like her as a pro and only started to appreciate her during her last season .

Love her now though

I didn't like her as a pro and I still don't, sky+ is a great invention....lol

No, last year when we had other professionals on in her spot I learnt a lot more about the steps in a couple of weeks than I have done in years with her, I especially loved Natalie and Iveta. Karen is too involved with herself and gurney plus I can ever take her seriously after she explained how dangerous it was for Harry to unwind the sheet around Aliona' s waist. She was serious, I mean, dangerous 😂😂😂

Oh noes, now you've reminded me of "central frugal" force. It was Claudia's completely deadpan "Sorry?" and Karen repeating it, very slowly so that someone as dim as Claudia would understand, that did for me.

Karen is there to justify marks given by the judges. How often does she really disagree?

Heaven forbid - can't stand Gnasher Hardy and her rictus grin and if I heard a whiff she was joining the panel I'd be off like a hare and never come back!

We are not keen in our household. Not sure why but she just does not seem very warm.

no (no no)

Yeah or Erin Boag

I didn't take to her in the show until I realised she was 103 years old. I've now a lot more time for her critiques in 'SCD - an extra slice'...

I think she's very knowledgeable and she explains her points well but I find her twee and smarmy at the same time, a bit school prefecty.

I just feel that any ballroom and/or latin dancer/ex dancer of reasonable calibre could make as good as/better points with much less fuss. I find Ian Waite far more insightful (and less patronising) as he just makes each point and moves on. Also I usually agree with Ian, but not necessarily with Karen on ballroom.

She does "know her stuff" but I'm not keen on her delivery - particularly on ITT when she seems to require a round of applause for getting up from the sofa.

I agree with you. There's no doubt she's very knowledgeable about dance, and apart from her's and Ian Waite's slots, there's not enough proper critiquing of the actual dancing on ITT. But she does my head in with the 'look at me showing I can still do this' and all her face pulling.

Well she deserves those rounds of applause. She paid her dues and is very well respected in the dancing world. She constantly fly to Europe, japan. ....to judge REAL dancing competitions.

I'm not questioning the fact she works hard and is well respected. However to me, when she stands up to demonstrate a step, she somehow manages to look like she's showing off. Zoe Ball and whoever else happens to be in the studio cheering her on; every time; reinforces my opinion on that.

I think she's just very theatrical

I think she is an over emphasiser on TV. I believe also she has a slight hearing impediment? Maybe that's why she talks a bit loud on there? She is a rather ripe ham and enjoyable for all that, though there definitely isn't as much bite in ITT as in the days of Claudia...according to Zoe everybody is bloody fantastic all the time, whereas Claudia off the cuff wasn't shy of sometimes winding up the crapper contestants. Karen bounced off Claudia better, but then everybody did.

Back to Karen, I did in fact meet her during the Ramps series, when she co hosted a ball with Bill Turnbull, Ramps was there, Brendan, Andrew Cuerden and Hanna....the Cutlers, Lord, lots of SCD luminaries looking back. Maybe surprisingly, she came across quite quiet and very charming in conversation. That previous week there had been a nice fan article for Maren, accompanied by a drop dead full length publicity promo pic of them in the Mail by the now departed Alison Pearson who was an obsessive fan, along the same ilk as Marion Keyes, pity she was never on ITT. I gave it to Karen, who hadn't seen it at all...she said all that time training they were in a total bubble working for 15 hours a day, and she had just no idea of anything going on outside. She was really pretty overcome at being in the nationals quite touchingly. Of course, that series was full on, it was the two sportsmen left standing at the end.

The other night when getting up to demonstrate some steps she actually clapped herself!

I like Karen . She can be a bit hyper at times , but is wonderful in explaining the intricacies of footwork and posture to back up her critiques .

I hate those damned shoes she wears when she demonstrates steps. If she goes to ITT intending to demonstrate steps, she should wear proper dance shoes. Her feet NEVER look right because of those booties with the 6 inch spike heels - and her usually atrocious clothing otherwise - dress the part if you're going to be our dance mistress.

But last year was better when they had various pros, like Natalie, Iveta, Tristan, Aliona, talking dance instead of same old same old Karen, 3 or 4 days a week. And all that hooplah about hiring Joanne - not that I'm crazy about her, but what was all that about when she wasn't even on the panel this Friday? ITT seems totally chaotic this year - throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. Even Ian is starting to annoy with his painted on trousers - he looks stupid dancing in those things just as Karen does in her creepy too-early-Halloween outfits and hooker heels despite her matronly personality. Yuck!

Q: Anyone else adore Karen Hardy?


A: Nobody adores Karen Hardy quite as much as Karen Hardy

No, no and thrice no Lurcio

Completely ott and a narcissist to boot.

Adore, no. I do like her though and look forward to her segments on ITT.