Strictly’s Karen Hauer praises Jamie Laing’s incredible body transformation after her training

Strictly professional Karen Hauer has praised partner Jamie Laing’s incredible body transformation following eight weeks of her rigorous dance training.

Karen, 38, said she’s ‘made a machine’ out of the Made In Chelsea star, 32, who now has ‘awesome abs’ as well as ‘amazing enthusiasm and energy’ that he brings to every performance.

Jamie, who’s survived the dance off four times, joked his fellow contestants believe he’s ‘bribing the judges’ – as he discusses ‘true friend’ Ranvir Singh, 43, being sent home a week before the final.

Toned up: Strictly professional Karen Hauer has praised partner Jamie Laing’s incredible body transformation following eight weeks of her rigorous dance training 

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s grand Strictly final, Karen said: ‘I’ve made a friend and I’ve made a machine now because he’s got awesome abs!

‘I have never seen someone bounce back with such positivity and resilience.

‘It’s the whole mentality of it, during these times when everyone needs lifting and the fact he’s been able to lift me and himself at times, and lifting people at home with all his amazing enthusiasm and energy, I think that’s what’s brilliant about Jamie.

‘I’m so proud of him – with all those ups and downs he’s always managed to have a smile on his face.’ 

Throwback: Karen, 38, said she's 'made a machine' out of the Made In Chelsea star, 32, who now has 'awesome abs' (pictured during week one of the competition)

Throwback: Karen, 38, said she’s ‘made a machine’ out of the Made In Chelsea star, 32, who now has ‘awesome abs’ (pictured during week one of the competition) 

Ripped: Jamie previously told MailOnline his 'wonderful partner Karen has abs everywhere' ¿ but now after weeks of training, he's not too far behind

Ripped: Jamie previously told MailOnline his ‘wonderful partner Karen has abs everywhere’ – but now after weeks of training, he’s not too far behind 

Jamie has escaped elimination four times after winning over the judges by being willing to better himself and take on their criticisms.

The TV personality has experienced mixed emotions – while he’s thrilled to have reached the final, he’s also found it ‘tough’ saying goodbye to his co-stars. 

He said: ‘It is really tricky. This Strictly family, you do become a family, everyone talks about it but you really do.

‘When one of your buddies goes and Ranvir, they’re true friends. It’s a weird combination because you obviously don’t want to go home but you don’t want someone else to go home.

‘It’s one of those things, it is tough and it is hard but it’s part of the show. If it was us at any point I would have stood there and said “you know what, fair enough, that is what happens, it’s part of the show.”

‘Some people now think we’re bribing the judges. It’s just we dance well.’

'That's what's brilliant about him': Jamie has escaped elimination four times after winning over the judges by being willing to better himself and take on their criticisms

‘That’s what’s brilliant about him’: Jamie has escaped elimination four times after winning over the judges by being willing to better himself and take on their criticisms 

'They're true friends': The TV personality has experienced mixed emotions ¿ while he's thrilled to have reached the final, he's also found it 'tough' saying goodbye to his co-stars, such as Ranvir Sin

‘True friends’: Jamie has experienced mixed emotions – while he’s thrilled to have reached the final, he’s also found it ‘tough’ saying goodbye to his co-stars, such as Ranvir Singh

In defence of criticism from viewers that were disappointed to see Ranvir and Giovanni Pernice, 30, sent home last week, Karen said: ‘I know people think the dance offs are really bad but for us they have been one of the best things ever. 

‘This one, doing a dance off he just completely goes for it and I have never seen that ever before. 

‘Usually, people get scared in the dance offs but with us it was like “lets bring it, we deserve to be here. We earned it.”‘

At the beginning of the competition, Jamie vowed to propose to girlfriend Sophie Habboo, 26, if he won Strictly.

As winning has gradually become more of a possibility, Jamie appears to have changed his mind – and joked he’d be up for marrying partner Karen instead.

When asked how he would react if he won the Glitter Ball trophy, Jamie said: ‘Marrying Karen! 

‘My real reaction… you know when you try and think about space, I can’t think about it because it’s too much. It would be the best Christmas present that I could give Karen and myself and my friends and family.’ 

'We deserve to be here': In defence of criticism from viewers that were disappointed to see Ranvir and Giovanni Pernice, 30, sent home last week, Karen said: 'We earned it'

‘We deserve to be here’: In defence of criticism from viewers that were disappointed to see Ranvir and Giovanni Pernice, 30, sent home last week, Karen said: ‘We earned it’