Oh I agree with you completely, I don't particularly like her at all but I'm just trying to reconcile the Karen that people have met and the Karen on screen.

I think I agree about the whole a woman isn't allowed to be competitive etc, and that's maybe why Karen isn't liked, of course being paired with someone who wants to win and can win is going to make her even more competitive, I'm sure Erin did the same with Colin, infact I remember going off Erin because she was too competitive.

And re threads, last year or so there was that topic that slated Karen for being too fat and too old or something which is just uncalled for.

But also, Karen probably intimidates most by the titles she has and who's she danced with (aka Bryan) although no disrespect to people like the Cutlers though, cos they're also highly ranked and rated.

Yeah thats understandable.

Also, I think with Karen is because she hadn't danced for so long, she really really throws herself in SCD which most of the others don't do as much because they still do demos etc and other forms of dancing, whereas she teaches which ok, it's dancing, but it's not travelling around doing demos to a paying audience.

Erin and Camilla are also competitive and are my two favourite pro females (Erin to win this year! so not necessarily the case for everyone.

I agree that personal comments about her appearance are out of order but her dancing, choreography and the way she comes across are up for criticism - as they are for everyone else on the show.

LOL. Did you actually read your first post!

I agree completely!
I adored her in series 3 with bill, and I cried my eyes out when they were voted out.
with mark she annoyed the hell out of me...but yet I still cried when she got the 10 she wanted!!!
so I think it is because she wears her heart on her sleeve to why i do like her.

i hope that this series she'll be more like she was with bill.
We did seem a glimpse of series 3 karen last year.
...here's hoping!!

I never said she was a bad dancer?

My views on Karen-

I like her, she's really great to watch and I'm looking forwards to seeing her training with Gary, they look like they have a laugh!

Isn't it funny how we see things differently?

I saw the other couples talking about "When X and I won" and then Karen saying "When Mark won" without including herself in that statement and thought "awww, how sweet of her".

I like Karen, but I didn't actually like her in certain bits in series 4, but always find it funny how she gets the criticism threads, yet not many of the others do..I mean does Anton's latin get a topic of it's own for slagging off? No. But there could be

I love karen, I think she comes across as I really ballsy wonam which some may not like but I think she's fab!

Anton's latin does come in for a fair bit of criticism... in fact I do think there are threads about it!

Damn..I need to go find them lol (joke)

I don't think I have anything more to say on the matter except Karen is actually a really nice person and well, helped me to learn to dance, so I'm thankful.

Here is my view on Karen:

Love. Her.

and she taught me the most kick ass jive ive ever danced....so I like her!!!

personally i l love karen and she is my favourite pro dancer

I like Karen.

She speaks up for herself. She is interesting and articulate. She is clearly a good teacher. She gets on really well with all her partners. She is personally very attractive. She is protective of her partners. Sha was an excellent strictly correspondent.

Could all this 'I don't like Karen' be pure and simple jealousy?

I love Karen. Shes my fave female pro!

I love Karen as well. When you think of her career, you can see where she comes from IMO.

She was a world champion dancer, so her teaching is above reproach. In all my time watching SCD she is only one of two pro's I've heard say "I have to make my partner look good".

She was a judge. As a judge, give your opinion of the dance, not the personal attacks that have now become part of the show. This is where she collides with the judges on the show, she sees it as unprofessional.

She did an amazing job with "no touching please" Ramps, I'd brag about it too.

She shows that dancing can be fun, and with dedication, you don't have to be a teenager to be fantastic. If the rumours are true, then she may not be there next year, and that will be a big loss in my eyes.

I think if it hadn't been for Ramps and Alesha Karen and Matthew would have followed Nicole out the door. The BBC don't seem to like pros who just do their job.

I think Karen is excellent and refreshing but understand why not everyone shares my view.

Ultimately this is game opera and a variety of cast members is essential to make it work. There are plenty of bland, diplomatic, 'nice' pros who always say the right things and act supportively and behave impeccably. Nothing against them...they do a fine job. However, the show also needs the more distinctive characters like Brendan, Karen, Vincent...and the 'sexier' types like Ola and Flavia (can't comment on the male pros)....for the same reason that a panel of identikit judges or set of excessively similar contestants wouldn't work at all.

Karen is probably the only pro I really can't seem to like. Although there are a couple of others I can't warm to she bugs me the most
To me she just come across as annoyingly OTT and when she answers the judges back etc I just wish she'd shut up (same with the others).

I'm sure she's a lovely person in real life but I've never met her and am unlikely to so I can only make my judgement based on how she is on telly.

Karen is great, and leaves them in no doubt who is in charge.

Karen does seem to be the professional who most people either seem to love or hate.

At the end of the day...the girl is as legend of the dance world.

She knows her job inside out and when it coms to ballroom and latin dancing is vastly more experienced than all judges with the exception of Len.

Her passion shines through and her love of dance unfortunately for some of the viewing public is just too good to be true and they see her as being OTT and annoying.

Karen is one of the most respected dancers on the show and rightly so...she is such an amazing dancer and seems to me like a very genuine nice person and I wish her all the best