Strictly winner tells co-star ‘I adore you’ as she helps with surprise away from ballroom

Carlos Gu was helped by one of his co-stars with a surprise during a big solo move away from the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom

Carlos Gu has said he ‘adores’ one of his Strictly Come Dancing co-stars as she was seen helping him with a surprise during a big solo move away from the ballroom.

The professional dancer, who won the BBC One dance contest’s 2025 series alongside former footballer Karen Carney, has been busy with several projects following his history-making win.

One of those projects has been his ‘An Evening with Carlos Gu’ show, with the sold-out event taking place on Tuesday (April 7) night at cabaret club, Crazy Coqs in London’s Soho.

The special one-man show was attended by fans as well as his Strictly pals, including fellow professional dancers Amy Dowden and Katya Jones. And while It Takes Two host Janette Manrara was also in the audience, she also took her support to another level by joining Carlos on stage for a performance.

In a video of them in a dressing room filmed before the show, but shared afterwards onto Janette’s Instagram Story, Janette said: “Pre-show, we’re getting ready.” Carlos described Janette as his “special guest”, while she excitedly reffered to him as the “star of the show” before adding: “Nobody knows I’m here! Well, people know I’m coming, but we’re going to sing together… I can’t wait.”

Videos were then shared of their joint performance, alongside one of which Carlos said: “@janettemanrara I adore you more than you could’ve imagined.” She also showed her support, with Janette sharing a picture of the pair and saying in view of her own Instagram followers: “You did it my gorgeous friend!”

It comes after Carlos admitted that he was initially uncertain about his and Karen’s recent Strictly partnership, but that the former Lioness has since become a close friend and “changed” him for the better.

“This incredible woman she has taught me so much about this world being humble and just being a giving person and taking nothing back,” he shared with Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast

Asked whether he plans to return to the show this year, Carlos said he has yet to discover if he will be back, following several changes to the professional line-up, which has so far including the axing of four dancers.