Strictly Come Dancing contestant George Clarke has candidly shared the significant 'pressure' he experienced backstage before his latest emotionally charged performance on the BBC competition.
An Emotional Tribute on the Dancefloor
The 25-year-old YouTube star, alongside his professional partner Alexis Warr, delivered a poignant Rumba during Saturday's show, achieving a score of 29 from the judges. The performance was set to a profoundly meaningful song choice: Lily Allen's cover of the Keane classic, 'Somewhere Only We Know'.
This track held deep personal significance for George, as it was the same song his sister performed at their grandfather's funeral. In the lead-up to the dance, George explained on This Morning that he wanted to use his platform to pay tribute to his mother and the wider family, acknowledging the difficulties they have faced over the past decade.
Family Pride and Backstage Nerves
Following the emotional routine, George revealed how his parents reacted. He described them as 'unbelievably proud', sharing a heartfelt moment where he went over to hug them. His father, however, questioned why George had chosen to add such personal pressure, calling the decision 'insane', though he was ultimately very happy with the performance.
Reflecting on the experience during an appearance on the sister show It Takes Two with Janette Manrara, George admitted he felt the weight of the moment. 'It does add a little bit more pressure and I feel like I felt it a little bit in the dance,' he confessed. He credited his partner, Alexis, with advising him to 'just perform it' and focus on the emotion rather than technical perfection.
From Social Media Star to Strictly Favourite
Despite his consistent high scores, George admitted that the world of performance is still unfamiliar territory for him. 'It's really strange, the whole sort of performing side of it because that's not something I do,' he said, specifically noting the exposed nature of the Rumba, where any mistake is easily visible.
Nevertheless, his journey on the show has captured public attention. Celebrity and PR expert Kayley Cornelius has now tipped George as a potential winner of the coveted Glitterball Trophy. She highlighted his social media savviness as a key advantage, particularly with the show's recent move to online voting.
Cornelius pointed out that George's massive TikTok following of over 2.4 million is not only boosting his own profile but is also bringing a new, younger audience to the long-running BBC programme. She suggested that his engaging online content, which frequently features his professional partner, is resonating strongly with viewers and could very well carry him to the final.
