YouTuber George Clarke has shared a moving and lengthy statement after finishing as a runner-up in the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final on Saturday night. The content creator, who danced with professional partner Alexis Warr, lost out on the Glitterball Trophy to former Lioness Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu.
A Journey of Self-Discovery
In his post on Sunday, 21 December 2025, Clarke described the end of the series as "a lot to process". He reflected on the intense four-month experience, stating it was "a hell of an experience" and that concluding the journey was "hard to come to terms with".
Central to his reflection was the profound impact of his dance partner, Alexis Warr, one of the BBC show's newest professional recruits. "Your pro is 99% of your process and I've had the best and most formative 4 months of my life," Clarke wrote, adding that Warr helped him "discover some belief in myself". He emphasised that this newfound confidence shaped him "as a person not just as a dancer".
Final Night Performances and Judge's Scores
During the live final, which also marked the last show for hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman, Clarke and Warr delivered three standout routines:
- A reprised Paso Doble to 'Game of Survival' by Ruelle.
- A Viennese Waltz to 'Somebody to Love' by Queen.
- A Show Dance to 'Human' by The Killers.
Each dance earned an impressive 39 points from the judges, tying them with the eventual winners. They finished just one point behind fellow finalists Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin. Clarke expressed pride in performing "three wildly different dances" he felt he had no chance of mastering at the competition's start.
An Outpouring of Love from the Strictly Family
The emotional post attracted supportive comments from across the Strictly Come Dancing family. Outgoing co-host Claudia Winkelman responded with four red heart emojis, while judge Craig Revel Horwood wrote "Well done George".
Professional dancer Amy Dowden posted a particularly heartfelt message, praising Clarke as a "kind, genuine lovely soul" and thanking him for "looking after our Alexis Warr on her first year". Warr herself commented, "Georgey! love you so much, thank you! Let me know if you ever need a dance partner, I’ll be there."
Clarke concluded by describing the "whole world of Strictly" as "uplifting and positive", a "breath of fresh air". While he hopes to continue dancing, he humorously noted his body "will be on standby until 2026". He also graciously congratulated the "particularly impressive woman" Karen Carney on her victory.
