George Clarke’s Strictly odds tumble hours before final as Karen Carney overtakes

George Clarke’s odds took a sharp turn on Saturday, just hours before the final of Strictly Come Dancing. The Bristol-born YouTuber, 26, had led bookmakers’ betting for most of the series, but was nudged into second place as Karen Carney overtook him at 4/9. Clarke’s new line stood at 7/4, while Amber Davies, the Love Island alum, trailed at 40/1. 'George may have fallen at the final hurdle if the latest odds are anything to go by... he looks set to miss out on the Glitterball Trophy,' said Alex Apati of Ladbrokes.

With the Glitterball Trophy on the line on Saturday, Clarke will cross swords with Carney and Davies in a finale that will determine this year’s champion. Carney, a former England international and Lioness, has surged to the front of the pack, while Davies remains a long shot but could still mount an upset. Carney’s odds to win sit at 4/9, making her the bookmaker’s clear favourite, and Davies sits at 40/1 as tensions mount over the result. The final also marks a dramatic shift in expectations, given Clarke’s long lead and Carney’s late surge.

Meanwhile, The Apprentice alum Tom Skinner has broken silence on his early Strictly Come Dancing exit, saying he is seeking legal advice after alleging BBC bosses rigged official voting figures. In a lengthy post to X, Skinner explained that he would not be attending the final, saying he wanted to ensure his dance partner Amy Dowden was okay and that he entered the show to test himself rather than to win. He wrote, in part: "On the night I left the show, I received an anonymous email claiming to be from a BBC exec with stats, saying I’d received far more votes than it appeared and it wasn’t right. I’ve since had the email independently verified." He added that a senior BBC figure had since resigned and that hosts left the program the following week, describing the situation as unsettling.

Skinner continued: "That same email mentioned the BBC was very angry and nervous simply because I had met JD Vance... I’m not a political bloke. Never have been. I just love my country and am patriotic." He also asserted that he had been portrayed unfairly by media coverage and that the final’s results should reflect genuine public voting, not the narrative that had circulated in press reports. He concluded by emphasizing his intent to pursue clarity and fairness, while noting the attention his participation had drawn.

The Daily Mail reported that BBC representatives were contacted for comment on Skinner’s allegations, but no public reply was provided at the time of publication. The BBC has not publicly commented on the voting-figures claims or on the ongoing backstage tensions surrounding the show.

As the final approaches, producers and contestants have kept a relatively tight lid on rehearsals and scoring until Saturday night, when viewers will learn who will lift the Glitterball Trophy. The contest, which has captivated audiences with a mix of athletic dancing and celebrity spectacle, remains a cultural staple of the autumn entertainment calendar, drawing headlines beyond the dance floor as controversy and fan debate swirl around voting integrity, public perception, and the influence of bookmakers’ odds on the televised spectacle.