Who is Karen Barber? Dancing On Ice 2019 head coach and girlfriend of judge Christopher Dean
KAREN Barber returned to Dancing On Ice in 2019 - despite a rocky relationship with judge Jason Gardiner.
Let's take a look at her love, life and career so far...
Who is Karen Barber?
Karen, 57, was born June 21, 1961, in Manchester and is an English ice dancer.
In 1977 she won the silver medal at the World Junior Championships with partner Kim Spreyer.
When that partnership ended, she teamed up with Nicky Slater.
They won the bronze medal at the 1983 European Championships.
They represented Great Britain at the 1980 Winter Olympics, placing 12th, and at the 1984 Winter Olympics, where they placed 6th.
Following her retirement from competitive skating, Karen worked as a coach and skated professionally.
When was Karen on Dancing On Ice before?
Karen was one of the original judges on Dancing On Ice when it launched in 2006.
In 2011 she was moved to the role of head coach where she remained until 2012.
She was left in tears after a furious on-air row with judge Jason Gardiner who told her: "If your opinion mattered you’d still be on the judging panel."
The remark left Karen in tears.
In 2013 and 2014 she was back on the judging panel alongside her foe.
In October 2018 it was revealed that she would return as head coach for the 2019 series of the show - reuniting her with Gardiner.
In December 2018 Gardiner called a truce saying: "Just professionally. In her role as a coach, she is unsurpassable."
LATEST DANCING ON ICE NEWS
How long has Karen been in a relationship with Christopher Dean?
Karen has been in a relationship with ice skating gold medallist Christopher Dean since 2011.
Before this she was married to figure skating champ Stephen Pickavance.
Karen has two daughters, Laura and Emma, with her former husband.
When is Dancing On Ice on TV?
Dancing On Ice 2019 returned to ITV in January and the final airs TOMORROW (March 10) at 6pm.
Phillip Schofield is back to present the hit show once more alongside Holly Willoughby, who revealed the news of the show's return live on This Morning in late January.
Skating icons and current judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will return as judges, alongside Jason Gardiner and Ashley Banjo.