Celebrity Feud Exposed: Expert's Reaction Reveals Hidden Tension
A potential "feud" on *Strictly Come Dancing* has surfaced as fans have noticed a professional dancer’s “unimpressed” expression after meeting their celebrity partner. The much-anticipated return of the BBC One show was celebrated on Saturday night, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman aiming to shift focus from previous scandals surrounding the series. The launch show of the 22nd season had each celebrity discovering their dance partner, with JB Gill paired with returning pro Amy Dowden and Pete Wicks teaming up with former champion Jowita Przystał.
However, some keen-eyed viewers pointed out that one professional dancer appeared to “struggle to look happy” upon meeting their celebrity partner. As Karen Hauer was announced as ex-footballer Paul Merson’s dance partner, many fans speculated that she seemed less than thrilled. One viewer noted on a Reddit thread, “Wow, Karen was struggling to look happy when she met Paul,” while another expressed a wish that Karen had been "benched instead of Lauren this year," adding, “It feels unfair that she’s had a partner every year but her enthusiasm for the show seems to get lower and lower each year. She came across as really rude.”
Fans also took to Twitter/X to voice their opinions on the partnership, with one tweet stating, “Paul Merson doesn't want to be partnered with Karen lol, I can see another Will Young exit type lol #Strictly2024.” The duo’s first meeting was saved for the finale of Saturday’s show, and when Paul was asked for his thoughts on being paired with Karen, he claimed, “I’m pleased, I’m very pleased.” In a light-hearted exchange, Karen joked about Paul’s lack of enthusiasm, saying, “Hey! Give me a smile.”
During Claudia's conversation with the couples in the studio, some astute viewers pointed out that Paul appeared rather miserable while discussing his partnership with Karen. When Claudia asked, “Paul, you're with our longest serving pro - the unbelievable Karen. How happy are you?” he quietly responded, “Yeah, well pleased. The two oldest together,” which sent the audience into laughter. You May Like: