WHEN George Clarke stepped onto the hallowed Strictly dance floor for the first time, many of the show’s fans didn’t have a clue who he was.
But now with some savvy moves both on and off the dance floor, content creator George has made it all the way to the final and is hotly tipped to lift the glitter ball trophy with his professional partner Alexis Warr.
And celebrity PR expert Kayley Cornelius believes George has cleverly helped his stars to align for a Strictly win.
“There’s a strong case to be made that everything has quietly fallen into place for George Clarke to win Strictly this weekend,” she explains.
“While others have relied on technical polish or prior performance experience, George’s journey has been built on something far more powerful in today’s TV landscape: relatability, consistency and an exceptionally savvy understanding of how audiences engage online.
He has managed to blend authenticity with strategic content creation in a way few traditional celebrities can.
“One of the biggest factors working in George’s favour is the way Strictly voting has shifted online. That change alone plays directly into the hands of stars like George, who, much like I’m A Celebrity winner Angry Ginge, comes with an online-first audience that is young, loyal and highly engaged.
“These are fans who don’t just watch passively – they show up, they vote and they feel personally invested in the outcome. They feel part of the journey, which can make all the difference when the final votes are being counted.”
If George Clarke does lift that glitterball trophy it will make a historic reality TV double after his pal and fellow social media star Angry Ginge was crowned King of the Jungle in I’m a Celeb – the first time ever that two social media personalities have won the biggest shows on telly.
Kayley Cornelius, on behalf of premium online casino Genting Casino, says the lads’ relatability and online connections with their fans is what has set them apart from their competition.
“What George and Ginge share is a digitally tuned fanbase built through years of parasocial relationships,” says Kayley.
“Their audiences feel like they know them. They’ve watched their lives unfold in real time, laughed along with them, shared highs and lows and, crucially, feel emotionally connected enough to want to back them when it really matters.
“In a competition like Strictly, that loyalty can be more powerful than perfect footwork. George has harnessed that connection brilliantly, turning casual viewers into engaged advocates.”
Unsurprisingly, 25-year-old George has been prolific with his socials during his time on Strictly, sharing behind the scenes content on Instagram and TikTok.
Fans have even noticed that George and Alexis, who is one of two new pros on the show this year, appear to try their best to make it into the Strictly account’s videos – particularly the Hidden Mics series.
Loyal fanbase
Each week, the show posts audio from the stars’ hidden microphones during their performances, and many have spotted that George speaks more on stage than others.
During one dance he could be heard to tell Alexis: “Come up on stage, trust me you’ll love it.”
And in his Tango to Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, he randomly blurted out the word “treason” . This playful asides make him a shoo in for the Hidden Mic posts.
And that social media savviness could be his secret weapon. Despite being a relative unknown to older Strictly fans, George has almost 4 million followers across all his social media platforms.
His fanbase includes 840,000 Instagram followers, and two million on TikTok. He also has a further 95,000 followers on X and 639,000 subscribers on his YouTube page.
Coupled with the fact that he has no prior dance experience, his pro partner Alexis being on her first ever series of Strictly, and the pair of them committing fully to the process rather than treating it as a laugh has earned them the respect of even the most die-hard Strictly fans.
“George has played his hand cleverly throughout the series,” Kayley tells The Sun.
“While he’s not the strongest dancer technically, viewers can clearly see the effort he’s putting in, and that counts for a lot. Known primarily for being funny, chaotic and light-hearted online, many fans likely tuned in expecting him to treat Strictly as a bit of a laugh.
“Instead, he’s surprised both the audience and his own followers by taking it seriously, pushing himself and improving week after week. That commitment has earned him respect not just as a competitor, but as someone audiences genuinely want to see succeed.
“That growth arc has been key. At a time when some contestants have come under scrutiny for having prior dance or performance training, George has stood out as the contestant with the biggest and most authentic journey.
“Viewers respect that, particularly given the emotional weight he’s carried behind the scenes, including dedicating a dance to his poorly mum. Moments like that have allowed audiences to connect with him on a deeper, more human level.
“Social media has been central to all of this. George has taken fans along for the ride, sharing rehearsals, nerves, celebrations and setbacks in a way that feels genuine rather than manufactured. Featuring his Strictly partner Alexis regularly has also been a smart move.
With George’s friends and peers backing him publicly week after week, the call to vote has been amplified to millions of enthusiastic supporters
Kayley Cornelius
“For viewers unfamiliar with her before the show, those videos have helped establish her personality and warmth, strengthening their partnership in the eyes of the public. Fans were no longer just backing George as an individual, they were backing George and Alexis as a team.”
George, 26, from Bristol, first set up a TikTok account in 2019 and his humour and likability soon won an army of fans.
His content mainly consist of gaming, vlogs and reaction videos, while his advice podcast The Useless Hotline with fellow YouTuber Max Balegde went to number one.
Showbiz future
Kayley believes just like Angry Ginge on I’m A Celeb, George’s online fanbase and the support of other content creators gives him money can’t buy publicity which could swing it for him to become the winner of Strictly this weekend.
“He has the sheer weight of support coming from the online creator community,” she explains. “With George’s friends and peers backing him publicly week after week, the call to vote has been amplified to millions of enthusiastic supporters.
“That kind of organic reach is something traditional celebrities simply can’t replicate, and it’s been a defining feature of his success on the show.”
George and Ginge both found Internet success at a similar time, move in the same social media circles and have collaborated on videos.
While both George and Ginge were live on TikTok they decided to call each other and have a catch-up sending fans wild about their friendship.
And last year the pair played in the Sidemen charity football match at Wembley.
George has already celebrated his pal Angry Ginge’s success on I’m A Celeb. He broke off from his Strictly training to post on X “Morgan F***ing Burtwhistle”.
And Kayley believes a double reality TV win could change the face of 21st century celebrity – and lead to a lucrative showbiz future for both of them.
“If George does lift the glitterball trophy, it would mark a historic double for content creators following Angry Ginge’s I’m A Celebrity win and further cement the shift in how modern fame works,” she says.
If he does win Strictly, the opportunity is enormous, but so is the responsibility
Kayley Cornelius
“It’s likely that the pair will appear at the same events and shows over the coming months due to their shared digitally engaged audiences. However, beyond online creation, the pair are very different in terms of branding.
“Ginge has a very clear and defined identity – football, sport and gaming – which has made it easy for brands and producers to see where he fits in opportunities going forward, and why we have continued to see him go from strength to strength.
“George on the other hand, while hugely popular and charismatic, does not yet have that same obvious niche. I do worry for him that, without a clear direction, he may not fully capitalise on this newfound wave of fame following the show.
“If he does win Strictly, the opportunity is enormous, but so is the responsibility. Brands will be lining up, broadcasters will be watching closely, and his earning potential could rise significantly, potentially commanding big seven-figure deals.
“The next step will be for George to decide what he wants to be known for beyond this moment and to set that tone early. By doing so, he could build a long-lasting career in entertainment beyond the show, further consolidate the momentum from Strictly, and leverage his social media following, live performance experience, and podcasting success to create a truly multifaceted brand.”
Who will be the next Strictly host?
WITH Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman set to leave Strictly, BBC bosses have lined up a “Golden Ten” shortlist of presenters who could replace them, Sun Bizarre editor Ellie Henman can reveal.
The candidates will next month be put through their paces at a top- secret chemistry test.
There are three frontrunners, in Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones and Alan Carr — with comic Alan the No1 target for the corporation’s top brass.
But all ten stars will be made to work with one another on screen in a bid to decide the perfect partnership.
A source said: “Replacing Claudia and Tess is a mammoth task but the BBC have whittled down the talent to ten people.
“As well as Bradley, Alex and Alan, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball and Holly Willoughby will be at the chemistry day.
“Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond and Angela Scanlon have made the cut too.
“They will go to a studio and be put into different pairs to see who works together best.
“It could be two women or two men paired, or a mix. They will ultimately choose whoever has the best chemistry in each partnership.
“Rylan and Rob present a travelogue series together on the BBC so they already have great chemistry. It’s the same for Alan and Amanda, with their home renovations show.
“Zoe hosted Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two and they know she is a very steady pair of hands — it’s just finding the right fit for her.
“Strictly bosses want to mix things up and see if there is a partnership within the ten that hasn’t been tried out before and is perfect.
“Ultimately, no one is bigger than the show so whichever lucky pair land the jobs will be the ones who the BBC think will be the perfect accompaniment to the series.”
Kayley feels that win or lose broadcasters will be queuing up to sign George – and Strictly won’t be the last we see of him in mainstream media.
“There’s no denying George’s broader appeal to broadcasters. He has been the breakout star of this year’s Strictly, helping to keep the series feeling fresh and attracting younger viewers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the BBC want to keep him on their radar.
“While some may underestimate just how established he already is, his experience across podcasts, live performance, and online content proves he knows how to hold an audience, adapt his energy, and keep people coming back for more.
“Radio could be the perfect next step for him, and he is more than qualified for it, with his slot on Radio 1 this Christmas Day giving him the chance to dip his toes in the water. A strong performance this Christmas could mark the starting point for a new chapter in his career!”
