Strictly semi-finalist says ‘this is s**t’ as he issues complaint about BBC show

George Clarke has shared behind-the-scenes details about the BBC show.

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The star admitted the Strictly studio is smaller than it looks on TV(Image: PA)

Strictly Come Dancing semi-finalist George Clarke has offered a candid behind-the-scenes glimpse into the iconic BBC ballroom, revealing how much smaller and different the studio is compared to what viewers see on television.

Speaking on The Useless Hotline podcast with co-host Max Balegde, George described his first impressions of the set.

“It was really interesting because I’ve seen it live before in Blackpool, which is obviously a much bigger place. The studio is quite small,” he said.

Recalling the reaction, Max joked: “I thought that when I first saw the studio. I was like, ‘Oh, this is s**t’.” George was quick to clarify: “Oh, it’s not s**t. It’s just smaller. You’re just like, ‘Oh… this is what it is.’”

Having reached the semi-finals of the hit dance competition, George explained how production tricks make the space appear far larger on TV. “The dance floor itself looks so much bigger on TV than it does in real life,” he said. “It looks like two different rooms to what I’m seeing.”

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George Clarke is performing in this year’s edition alongside dancer Alexis Warr(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

He also added that even contestants rely on monitors around the studio to gauge how routines will appear to the audience at home. “They have little tiny TVs up in the rafters so you can watch what it would look like on the camera,” Clarke explained. “I’d look up there occasionally and be like, ‘It looks like two different rooms.’”

George also praised the judges, noting how physically demanding their work is behind the scenes. “It is very interesting how good the judges are at the job. From where they’re sat, they physically have to move out of the way and look around at everything. What you don’t see on TV is that they’re actually on the floor doing laps around us. They’re doing so much exercise.”

“Shirley [Ballas] was doing cartwheels,” he joked. “I was like, ‘Calm down, love.’”

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George Clarke is a semi-finalist, competing against Amber Davies, Balvinder Sopal and Karen Carney. (Image: PA)

Elsewhere, George recounted a humorous on-camera moment. While sitting on the sidelines, he unexpectedly saw himself during a live broadcast with Tess Daly.

“I could see the camera from where I was sitting,” he said. “I saw myself just slotted in at the end, and you see the moment where I realise I’m on camera and I start mewing down the camera. I didn’t think they’d actually put it in. I thought they might crop me out a little bit.”

George Clarke, who has built a substantial online following through comedy and podcasting, is competing in the 23rd series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional partner Alexis Warr. He is now battling for a place in the final against fellow semi-finalists Amber Davies, Balvinder Sopal, and Karen Carney.