Karen Byrne is loving her new role on Dancing With The Stars, a challenge she was ready for after several years as a pro dancer on the show.
Chatting to EVOKE now that she's five weeks into being a judge, Karen told how she has the best support system at home as her long-time partner Jake Carter is cheering her every Sunday.
In fact, Jake's sweet reaction to her getting a spot on the judges' panel even reminded her that she'd 'met her person' - adorable!
Speaking after dedication week, Karen happily recalled: 'From the first time I got the phone call to say I was after getting the job...
'I remember ringing Jake and he was gigging and when he came in that night... you know you've met your person when they're so happy.'
She continued: 'He literally ran into the room, hugged me, he was like a Cheshire cat, delighted, and constantly reassuring me… that's what you want.
'You know sometimes we all do [it], we doubt ourselves, like “oh, am I going to be good?” He's my wingwoman every Sunday when I come home.
'Even now, he just texted me and he's like, “you are brilliant, you look gorgeous,” he's so supportive, which is lovely.'
While Karen still gets 'nervous' about being a judge as she 'wants to be positive and help [the celebs] but still give critique', she says she's now more relaxed than she was in the first couple of weeks.
She added: ' I love Dancing With The Stars, it’s in my blood and I was open to a new challenge. The fact that I've won the show twice, there's no reason to be jealous [of the dancers still competing].
'I want this show to go on and live on forever, and if I can be a part of it as long as I can, isn't it brilliant?'
The shows will start heating up now though for Karen as the dreaded dance off is returning from Sunday, something she's not looking forward to judging.
Karens said: ' It's definitely going to be tough but there's no hard feelings. You have to go with what you see, if somebody slips and falls, you have to judge them on what you see in the dance off.
'I'd love for everyone to make the final, but that's not what the show is. It is going to be hard. I wouldn't want to be Loraine having to decide and vote!'
