Strictly Come Dancing star George Clarke has issued a plea to fans following a challenging weekend for him on the show.
The influencer and content creator had, until Saturday, been enjoying a smooth experience on the show and was labelled an early favourite to win.
Saturday’s show unfortunately saw him and dance partner Alexis Warr near the bottom of the leaderboard, with a score of just 27 following their Jive to As It Was by Harry Styles.
However, the pair managed to escape the dreaded dance-off, with former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and partner Lauren Oakley fighting for their place in the series against reality star Amber Davies and her partner Nikita Kuzmin.
BBC Strictly: George Clarke channeled Harry Styles in Icons Week
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BBC
Both couples have consistently seen positive feedback and have respectfully achieved scores of 30 and 33 on Saturday night.
Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke expressed shock at the voting outcome, with each noting that neither couple deserved to be in the dance-off.
Ultimately, they saved Ms Davies, meaning Mr Floyd Hasselbaink had to bid farewell to the show.
Through a social media post on Monday, Mr Clarke, 25, shared a plea with his fans.
BBC Strictly: George Clarke reflected on the latest week, which saw him at the bottom of the leaderboard
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BBC
He penned: “Last night wasn’t my best dance ever and by no means the best we’ve danced it either.
“It feels wrong to call it a ‘competition’ as we feel like we’re all going on a journey together, so for that to end for anybody is a horrible feeling as everyone has more to give and to learn.”
Focusing attention to his Strictly co-stars, he continued: “In that same vein, the support is overwhelming and on the most part SO positive.
“BUT I just wanted to say, the people I’m on this journey with are friends and people I have so much respect for.
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“Please, if you are being so kind as to lift me up don’t bring any of them down as you do so.
“It’s part and parcel of the process to be judged and everyone has an opinion, it incites conversation, of course, but let it be just that.”
Mr Clarke’s statement comes after Saturday’s Icons Week saw a lot of criticism directed at the judges.
Fans took to social media to slam how the four didn’t seem to be in agreement on much, with some labelling their scoring as “all over the place”.
Just want to say how grateful I am for the support and obviously the votes. Being in the final 4 I can hand on heart say I thought I was in the dance off, so to be going through to next week I can’t thank you enough. Last night wasn’t my best dance ever and by no means the best…
— Georgeclarkey (@George_Clarkey) October 26, 2025
Ms Mabuse and Ms Ballas even found themselves in somewhat of a clash when they disagreed over Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey’s dance with partner Karen Hauer.
Ms Ballas also became visibly frustrated when audience members jokingly responded to her criticism of the celebrities.
BBC Strictly: George Clarke has been named among the favourites to win the series
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BBC“Shirley is actually so grumpy she is ruining the episode #Strictly,” one shared on X.
“She needs to go, not Tess and Claude #Strictly,” a second commented.
Another asked: “What is up with Shirley tonight? So rude #Strictly,” while another noted: “#Strictly Judges scores are all over the place tonight.”
“Judges have had an absolute nightmare tonight, don’t get me wrong I’m not their biggest fans any week but this week they’ve been astonishingly poor #Strictly,” another fumed.