Strictly Come Dancing finalist George Clarke was overcome with emotion during a live television appearance just days before the competition's climax, breaking down in tears as he received heartfelt messages from his family.
Emotional Overload on It Takes Two
The 26-year-old social media star struggled to contain his feelings during Friday's episode of the BBC Two companion show, It Takes Two. The trigger was a specially compiled film featuring his loved ones, who spoke proudly of his journey from a "shy little boy" to a confident performer on one of television's biggest stages. His professional dance partner, Alexis Warr, immediately rushed to comfort him, rubbing his arm as host Fleur East reassured him it was "fine".
"I don't think we've...sorry...really thought about [winning]," George said, apologising for his display of emotion. "I've tried not to this week because I feel like that's why we've really enjoyed the process so much because we've been so present. Sorry, this is awful for me."
Imposter Syndrome and Final Week Nerves
Despite being one of the final three couples vying for the Glitterball Trophy this weekend, Clarke revealed he is battling significant self-doubt. He will face West End actress Amber Davies with partner Nikita Kuzmin and former Lioness Karen Carney with Carlos Gu in the grand final.
"It would be incredible to lift the Glitterball Trophy," he admitted. "I've got insane amounts of imposter syndrome just getting this far." He also expressed anxiety about the show ending, regardless of the outcome. "If we go home with the Glitterball Trophy or not, it won't be a week of celebrations afterwards because I think Sunday, and, especially Monday, will hit incredibly hard not going in."
From 'Shy Boy' to Samba Star: A Strictly Transformation
Clarke has been remarkably open with his followers about his transformative journey on the show. In an Instagram post after last week's semi-final, he reflected on his growth. "In the launch show it looked uncomfortable to simply stand on some steps and clap," he wrote. "12 weeks later and we're devoting a twerk solo to Craig."
He reiterated, "I'm (George) not a performer, never mind a dancer," but credited the experience for building his belief. In the semi-final, he and Alexis scored 35 for a Samba to 'Volare' and 37 for a Charleston to 'We No Speak Americano', giving them a total of 72.
In a recent podcast appearance, Clarke also gave fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse, admitting the famous ballroom is "quite small" compared to how it appears on TV, with clever production creating the illusion of a much larger space.
All eyes will now be on the trio of couples as they prepare their final performances for Saturday night's live final, where one will be crowned the 2025 champion of Strictly Come Dancing.
