Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Lioness legend Karen, is the lead female pundit for both men’s and women’s football, across TNT and ITV. She is also the reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion, winning both the coveted glitterball trophy and the hearts of the nation in the 2025 final alongside her dance... Read more
Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Lioness legend Karen, is the lead female pundit for both men’s and women’s football, across TNT and ITV. She is also the reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion, winning both the coveted glitterball trophy and the hearts of the nation in the 2025 final alongside her dance partner Carlos Gu.
With 144 caps, Karen is England’s third most-capped player, competing at four World Cups, four European Championships and the London Olympics before retiring in 2019.
Aside from her incredible playing and broadcast career, Karen has secured a name for herself as a trailblazer in the advancement of women in sport. In 2022 she began leading a landmark government review with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, into the ‘Future of Women’s Football’ in the UK, every recommendation of which was successfully backed by the government in 2023. In the same year, she hosted ITV series ‘Leaders of the Pack’ which saw her have candid conversations with key figures in women’s international football.
Karen made history at the men’s World Cup 2022 as part of the first all-female line-up to analyse a men’s football game. Summer 2024 saw her lead the ITV coverage of the men’s Euros, including the nail-biter final England against Spain. She again lead the way on ITV for the historic 2025 women’s Euro win for the Lionesses.
Along with her best friend Jill Scott, she co-hosts their podcast ‘Long Story Short’, a hilarious and nostalgic delve into the stories of their friendship, through their football years and beyond.
Karen is often booked to speak at major corporate events, that look to her expertise that comes from playing elite level sport and how this can be applied to business. She is a Global Ambassador for Pepsi and sponsored by Nike, whilst regularly working with major brands like BMW, Heineken, Booking.com, Continental Tyres, Violife and more.