Boyfriend is Karen’s perfect
DWTS pro Karen Byrne opens up about her ‘happy puppy’ dance partner Jake Carter, the other man in her life… and why she doesn’t believe in the ‘curse’
KAREN BYRNE is the last female dancer standing – or jiving – on hit reality show Dancing With The Stars. The semifinal looms tonight and she is just one hop-step away from lifting the glitterball trophy. Taking time out from practising with her dashing dance protege Jake Carter, Karen talked to the Irish Mail on Sunday about sex, sexism, why Des Cahill is her No.1 fan and her loyal boyfriend– her perfect 10.
As the last remaining man in the competition Jake Carter is set to dance off against Erin McGregor, Anna Geary and Deirdre O’Kane.
This week, author Deirdre has levelled accusations of sexism against the judges and points to some low scores as apparent evidence of the patriarchy on the dance floor.
A related sentiment was expressed by Maia Dunphy, who was voted off some weeks ago. She said the show was more difficult for her as she had to take care of her toddler alone while competing.
But Karen is emphatic that there is no anti-female bias in the scoring. She points to her experience as a dancer and also to the fact that Jake is the last man in the competition.
‘I absolutely don’t think that’s true in the slightest,’ she insisted.
‘Sure if you are to look at it, Bernard was getting twos, Marty was getting
‘The fact there are more girls in final and Jake is only man speaks for itself’
twos, Jake was getting sevens when he probably deserved more.
‘The way I look at it is, it’s a television show, it’s light-hearted and you can’t take everything too seriously.
‘The fact that there are more girls in the final and Jake is the only man, I think really speaks for itself. If the judges have to look at the overall packages, you have to consider what the judges think is the best.
‘When you’re in a competition environment, people say things if they are stressed that maybe they feel at that moment and maybe regret after. But definitely, 100%, I don’t think that what was said is a true statement.
‘Sure everyone wants more in the marks and everyone always thinks they deserve more. And you can be upset if you get a lower score.’
Speaking of top marks, Karen laughs affectionally when I ask what score her boyfriend Wojtek Potaskin would get for his performance in her life.
‘We are together six years now. He’d be a 10, I’m not going to give him a two now, am I?’ she howls laughing. ‘But maybe some days he’s a two but some days he’s an 11.’
The couple met when Karen had just returned from a stint living in the UK and Wojtek and recently moved to Ireland.
They fortuitously waltzed into each others’ lives and have built a happy life and successful business running their own Dublin dance school.
And while shows like Strictly have been plagued with the so-called curse which has been blamed for breaking up relationships such as Louise and Jamie Rednapp, Karen says Wotjek has no issues with her dancing with the devilishly handsome Jake. ‘He moved over here and he was looking for a dance partner. He had danced in Poland. We met through a friend, had a trial and we haven’t looked back since,’ she says.
‘He is obviously a dancer as well and knows that a dance is a dance. He’s with us training and giving him the manly advice and tips.
‘He loves Jake as much as I do. So in that sense no, there’s no jealousy.
‘Maybe if you’re a non-dancer it may be little bit harder if you are a celebrity getting on the show because of the long hours you are spending with someone. But when you’re used to dancing it’s just normal.
‘He’s the No.1 supporter, he is out at every show.’
Another of Karen’s biggest fans is RTÉ star Des Cahill.
The pair partnered on the series last year and while they didn’t clinch the title and Des picked up low marks, they won over hearts of the nation. Her new partner Jake is topping the scoreboard this year, but Karen says she enjoys performing with both men equally.
‘I have a similar connection with them both, they both get my sense of humour,’ she explains. ‘But I think in terms of what’s expected from the both that is different.
‘I feel a little bit more pressure on me, because they are expecting big things from Jake because he actually can dance. Obviously, Des, once he was doing a half-decent dance, people were impressed. So you do feel the sense of pressure.
‘It’s more exciting for me as well, because I get to dance a little bit more than last year. It’s a different experience but it’s as fun as it was last year but way more intense.
‘I’m pushing myself more to show what I can do but I’m also pushing Jake more. So it’s different in that sense but every bit as much fun as I had with Des.’
And devoted Des is tuning in at home to will her on to the final.
Karen adds: ‘He texts me at the time the show is finished and he’ll say, “That was amazing.”
‘But I think whatever type of dance I did on the show Des would think it’s amazing and support me.
‘He rang me yesterday and we talked about the show and he said he would come to the final and support me.’ Last year Karen was knocked out mid-competition so talking to her it is apparent that she is excited at having made the semi-finals stage .
‘I can’t actually wait,’ she said. ‘There are two dances this week, so there is more training.
‘But I’m so happy to have made it this far, for me and Jake. So I just want to enjoy both dances and hope for the best.
‘When I danced with Des last year we got on so well, so going into the programme this year a second time you are hoping that you are going to get on well with your partner because you spend so much time with them.’
And Jake didn’t disappoint as she likens him to a ‘happy puppy’ but one that has displayed exceptional promise, talent and dedication.
‘Anything you do, he’s excited about it, he’s full of energy,’ she says. ‘He’s so positive and just being around someone like that who has the energy doesn’t make you tired.
‘At this stage in the competition everyone starts to get tired and is trying to keep motivated, but he’s
‘Wotjek loves Jake as much as I do, so there’s no jealousy’
so motivated and fun. He’s great, he’s such a hard worker. I think if I said he had to work 27 hours a day, he would .’
Having proven herself to be one of the stand-out dancers on the series, it is not beyond her abilities to tip-tap her way to the U K’s S trictly C ome D ancing.
But Karen insists she is perfectly happy where she is.
‘To be honest, I am so happy that I get to do one of the biggest shows in Ireland, so this is the show for me ,’ she says.
Karen also says that Dancing With The Stars has been a ratings hit for RT É, opening up the wonderful world of dance to a whole n ew a udience, b oth y oung a nd o ld.
And, as a consequence, her dance school has exploded in popularity.
‘Last year what grew the most was our adult classesbecausepeople were looking at De sand people his age were going, “If Des learned to dance and he got a bit fitter then maybe I can do it .”
‘So that was the main jump in classes last year – and these adults are still dancing with us now, which is great. This year there’s more kids because of the likes of Jake.
‘They’ re looking at him and the boys are seeing it more as cool now. So our kids’ classes h ave g rown. I t’s g reat f or d ancing in Ireland in general .’
With the final looming and the glitter ball almost within touching distance, Karen is taking nothing for granted and admits that the competition is fierce.
‘Anyone that signs up for the show wants to win it ,’ she says .‘ No one signs up and says, “Well, I’ll just have the craic and see how it goes.” I think everyone wants to win now, maybe some people show it more.
‘On a Sunday night we all want to win. Everyone that is left in the competition is deserving, but obviously I would be ecstatic if Jake won .’
And with months of training, hard work and dedication behind them, Karen believes h er ‘ happy p uppy’ J ake c an w ag the public’ s tail and persuade them to vote for him to take the trophy.
‘I do indeed [think we can win]. Why not? J ake h as t otally p ut h imself f orward and dedicated all his time and he has put in the work ,’ she says.
‘If you put in the work and dedicate yourself then you have a great chance of winning.
‘But Jaysus, if I made the final itself I would feel like I am winning .’
‘I do think we can win. Jake has totally dedicated himself and he has put in the work’