George Clarke breaks silence after finishing runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing

George Clarke has broken his silence after finishing as runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing, posting a long note on Instagram Sunday about his journey on the BBC competition. The 26-year-old content creator competed with professional dancer Alexis Warr in this year’s series, but the glitterball trophy went to Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu.

Clarke said the finish was 'hard to come to terms with' but added he had 'learned so much' during the four-month run. In the post, he thanked his family, friends, girlfriend and online supporters, calling his network 'incredibly supportive' and noting he would be forever grateful.

He said Strictly was a challenge for someone who has built a career in front of a camera and that he was initially out of his comfort zone. 'After the first few weeks I really thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew, every week felt like such an alien movement and no part of me believed I could create as good a dance as the other people in the competition. But that's where I have to thank Alexis.' Clarke added that 'your pro is 99 per cent of your process' and credited Warr with helping him become 'the best and most formative 4 months of my life' and with guiding him to believe in himself.

He described Warr as more than a dance partner, noting that she was also a teacher who helped him with mental as well as technical aspects of performance. 'She learned how I work best; She was just as good at helping me with things in my head as she was with helping me with where my feet go,' Clarke wrote, adding that Warr entered the show as the 'new girl' but chose to prove her abilities through him rather than self-promote. 'Strictly has gained a real gem and an asset and it was an absolute privilege to have the honour of being her first partner.'

Reflecting on the final show, Clarke praised hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for being 'incredible' during their final series after 21 years fronting the competition. 'I ended the night doing 3 wildly different dances, none of which I would've had a chance in hell at doing at the start of the competition. Not only was there an improvement but I hand on heart genuinely loved performing them and that was something I never thought would happen,' he wrote. 'Overall, the whole world of Strictly is so uplifting and positive. Everyone in and around the Strictly family has been a breath of fresh air to have in my life. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of it and a part of Tess and Claudia's last season.' Clarke added that he hoped to continue dancing in some capacity, noting his body would be on standby until 2026.

The finale crowned Karen Carney as the winner of the 2025 series, with viewers watching as she and pro Carlos Gu celebrated their glitterball victory. Clarke concluded by thanking everyone who made the experience possible and hinted that his future in dance is far from over, even as he takes a short break to rest and recharge.