Carlos Gu, a 33-year-old dancer originally from Taiyuan, China, has gained recognition in the UK after winning the latest series of the television dance competition Strictly Come Dancing alongside former England footballer Karen Carney. Gu first came to the UK in 2022 to join Strictly and has expressed deep admiration for British culture and entertainment, citing the period drama Downton Abbey as a key influence in his English language learning. He has said that he aimed to speak like actress Maggie Smith and has long held a fascination with “posh and upper-class” British culture.

Gu’s appreciation for British creative talent began years before his move to the UK. He is a devoted fan of singer Adele, having followed her work since 2010. Recalling an early experience, he admitted to once using his mother’s credit card without permission to travel from China to Belfast to attend one of Adele’s concerts, describing the trip as a formative moment. He also connected deeply with her song "Million Years Ago," which helped him cope with the loss of his cousin to cancer.

Growing up in China, where male dancers are relatively uncommon, Gu said his family originally wanted him to pursue a more traditionally masculine path. However, his mother supported his passion for dance by enrolling him in dance classes, giving him the encouragement that shaped his career. Since joining Strictly Come Dancing, Gu has praised the show’s increasing competitive standard, noting that earlier contestants had limited dance skills compared to the current cohort.

Before adopting the Western first name Carlos, changing from his birth name Gu Kunxuan, he initially wanted to be called Bob, but his teacher discouraged it, suggesting "no Latin dancer" would use that name. He remains an admirer of choreographer Bob Fosse, known for Broadway classics such as Sweet Charity and Chicago. Gu has expressed a strong ambition to transition to musical theatre, particularly the West End, and dreams of playing the Emcee role in the musical Cabaret, originally choreographed by Fosse. He aspires to create a male version of Liza Minnelli’s iconic character and joked about adopting the stage name "Liza Gu."

While Gu has a desire to sing, he acknowledged that his cousin, a pianist, once told him he was tone-deaf and could not sing, casting some doubt on this aspect of his ambitions. In addition to his work on Strictly, Gu recently launched his solo cabaret show "Hush: An Evening with Carlos Gu" in London’s West End, where he reflected positively on his experiences with previous Strictly dance partners, including television presenter Angela Scanlon, whom he said felt like an old friend from the start.

Gu’s journey from Taiyuan to the UK stage reflects his blend of cultural influences and determination to succeed in the performing arts beyond dance alone.