WHEN George Clarke stepped onto the hallowed Strictly dance floor for the first time, many of the show’s fans didn’t have a clue who he was.

But now with some savvy moves both on and off the dance floor, content creator George has made it all the way to the final and is hotly tipped to lift the glitter ball trophy with his professional partner Alexis Warr.
George Clarke is hoping to lift the Strictly GlitterballCredit: PA
Celebrity PR expert Kayley Cornelius believes George could be set to win thanks to his blend of relatability and savvy understanding of online audiencesCredit: Getty
Both George and his friend Angry Ginge have a loyal online fanbaseCredit: Youtube
And celebrity PR expert Kayley Cornelius believes George has cleverly helped his stars to align for a Strictly win.

“There’s a strong case to be made that everything has quietly fallen into place for George Clarke to win Strictly this weekend,” she explains.

“While others have relied on technical polish or prior performance experience, George’s journey has been built on something far more powerful in today’s TV landscape: relatability, consistency and an exceptionally savvy understanding of how audiences engage online.

He has managed to blend authenticity with strategic content creation in a way few traditional celebrities can.

“One of the biggest factors working in George’s favour is the way Strictly voting has shifted online. That change alone plays directly into the hands of stars like George, who, much like I’m A Celebrity winner Angry Ginge, comes with an online-first audience that is young, loyal and highly engaged.

“These are fans who don’t just watch passively – they show up, they vote and they feel personally invested in the outcome. They feel part of the journey, which can make all the difference when the final votes are being counted.”

If George Clarke does lift that glitterball trophy it will make a historic reality TV double after his pal and fellow social media star Angry Ginge was crowned King of the Jungle in I’m a Celeb – the first time ever that two social media personalities have won the biggest shows on telly.

Kayley Cornelius, on behalf of premium online casino Genting Casino, says the lads’ relatability and online connections with their fans is what has set them apart from their competition.

“What George and Ginge share is a digitally tuned fanbase built through years of parasocial relationships,” says Kayley.

“Their audiences feel like they know them. They’ve watched their lives unfold in real time, laughed along with them, shared highs and lows and, crucially, feel emotionally connected enough to want to back them when it really matters.

“In a competition like Strictly, that loyalty can be more powerful than perfect footwork. George has harnessed that connection brilliantly, turning casual viewers into engaged advocates.”

Unsurprisingly, 25-year-old George has been prolific with his socials during his time on Strictly, sharing behind the scenes content on Instagram and TikTok.

Fans have even noticed that George and Alexis, who is one of two new pros on the show this year, appear to try their best to make it into the Strictly account’s videos – particularly the Hidden Mics series.

Loyal fanbase

Each week, the show posts audio from the stars’ hidden microphones during their performances, and many have spotted that George speaks more on stage than others.

During one dance he could be heard to tell Alexis: “Come up on stage, trust me you’ll love it.”

And in his Tango to Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, he randomly blurted out the word “treason” . This playful asides make him a shoo in for the Hidden Mic posts.

And that social media savviness could be his secret weapon. Despite being a relative unknown to older Strictly fans, George has almost 4 million followers across all his social media platforms.

His fanbase includes 840,000 Instagram followers, and two million on TikTok. He also has a further 95,000 followers on X and 639,000 subscribers on his YouTube page.

Coupled with the fact that he has no prior dance experience, his pro partner Alexis being on her first ever series of Strictly, and the pair of them committing fully to the process rather than treating it as a laugh has earned them the respect of even the most die-hard Strictly fans.
George has earned the respect of the most die-hard Strictly fansCredit: PA
The social media star has almost 4 million followers across all platformsCredit: Instagram
George has spoken out to raise awareness of his mum’s health conditionCredit: georgeclarkeey / Instagram
“George has  played his hand cleverly throughout the series,” Kayley tells The Sun.

“While he’s not the strongest dancer technically, viewers can clearly see the effort he’s putting in, and that counts for a lot. Known primarily for being funny, chaotic and light-hearted online, many fans likely tuned in expecting him to treat Strictly as a bit of a laugh.

“Instead, he’s surprised both the audience and his own followers by taking it seriously, pushing himself and improving week after week. That commitment has earned him respect not just as a competitor, but as someone audiences genuinely want to see succeed.

“That growth arc has been key. At a time when some contestants have come under scrutiny for having prior dance or performance training, George has stood out as the contestant with the biggest and most authentic journey.

“Viewers respect that, particularly given the emotional weight he’s carried behind the scenes, including dedicating a dance to his poorly mum. Moments like that have allowed audiences to connect with him on a deeper, more human level.

“Social media has been central to all of this. George has taken fans along for the ride, sharing rehearsals, nerves, celebrations and setbacks in a way that feels genuine rather than manufactured. Featuring his Strictly partner Alexis regularly has also been a smart move.

With George’s friends and peers backing him publicly week after week, the call to vote has been amplified to millions of enthusiastic supporters

Kayley Cornelius

“For viewers unfamiliar with her before the show, those videos have helped establish her personality and warmth, strengthening their partnership in the eyes of the public. Fans were no longer just backing George as an individual, they were backing George and Alexis as a team.”

George, 26, from Bristol, first set up a TikTok account in 2019 and his humour and likability soon won an army of fans.

His content mainly consist of gaming, vlogs and reaction videos, while his advice podcast The Useless Hotline with fellow YouTuber Max Balegde went to number one.

Showbiz future

Kayley believes just like Angry Ginge on I’m A Celeb, George’s online fanbase and the support of other content creators gives him money can’t buy publicity which could swing it for him to become the winner of Strictly this weekend.

“He has the sheer weight of support coming from the online creator community,” she explains. “With George’s friends and peers backing him publicly week after week, the call to vote has been amplified to millions of enthusiastic supporters.

“That kind of organic reach is something traditional celebrities simply can’t replicate, and it’s been a defining feature of his success on the show.”
Fellow online star Angry Ginge was recently crowned the King of the JungleCredit: Splash
The pair have already collaborated togetherCredit: tiktok
A TV win could lead to a lucrative showbiz career for GeorgeCredit: Splash
George and Ginge both found Internet success at a similar time, move in the same social media circles and have collaborated on videos.

While both George and Ginge were live on TikTok they decided to call each other and have a catch-up sending fans wild about their friendship.

And last year the pair played in the Sidemen charity football match at Wembley.

George has already celebrated his pal Angry Ginge’s success on I’m A Celeb. He broke off from his Strictly training to post on X “Morgan F***ing Burtwhistle”.

And Kayley believes a double reality TV win could change the face of 21st century celebrity – and lead to a lucrative showbiz future for both of them.

“If George does lift the glitterball trophy, it would mark a historic double for content creators following Angry Ginge’s I’m A Celebrity win and further cement the shift in how modern fame works,” she says.

If he does win Strictly, the opportunity is enormous, but so is the responsibility

Kayley Cornelius

“It’s likely that the pair will appear at the same events and shows over the coming months due to their shared digitally engaged audiences. However, beyond online creation, the pair are very different in terms of branding.

“Ginge has a very clear and defined identity – football, sport and gaming – which has made it easy for brands and producers to see where he fits in opportunities going forward, and why we have continued to see him go from strength to strength.

“George on the other hand, while hugely popular and charismatic, does not yet have that same obvious niche. I do worry for him that, without a clear direction, he may not fully capitalise on this newfound wave of fame following the show.

“If he does win Strictly, the opportunity is enormous, but so is the responsibility. Brands will be lining up, broadcasters will be watching closely, and his earning potential could rise significantly, potentially commanding big seven-figure deals.

“The next step will be for George to decide what he wants to be known for beyond this moment and to set that tone early. By doing so, he could build a long-lasting career in entertainment beyond the show, further consolidate the momentum from Strictly, and leverage his social media following, live performance experience, and podcasting success to create a truly multifaceted brand.”

Kayley feels that win or lose broadcasters will be queuing up to sign George – and Strictly won’t be the last we see of him in mainstream media.

“There’s no denying George’s broader appeal to broadcasters. He has been the breakout star of this year’s Strictly, helping to keep the series feeling fresh and attracting younger viewers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the BBC want to keep him on their radar.

“While some may underestimate just how established he already is, his experience across podcasts, live performance, and online content proves he knows how to hold an audience, adapt his energy, and keep people coming back for more.

“Radio could be the perfect next step for him, and he is more than qualified for it, with his slot on Radio 1 this Christmas Day giving him the chance to dip his toes in the water. A strong performance this Christmas could mark the starting point for a new chapter in his career!”

‘I’m done letting him treat his family like this…’: Inside how Helen Flanagan’s once-‘amicable’ split with Scott Sinclair spiralled into chaos — from furious Instagram outbursts to explosive co-parenting rows… and why Christmas could ignite an even bigger clash… – suong

WHEN Helen Flanagan and Scott Sinclair split after 13 years, they vowed to keep things amicable for the sake of their young kids.

But it was not long before the dynamic of the celebrity couple’s co-parenting soon began to show signs of strain.

Helen Flanagan raged when she spotted photos of ex Scott Sinclair living the high life at the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, skipping their four-year-old son’s Christmas nativityCredit: Getty

Helen lashed out online: ‘You really are a piece of s***,”’ sharing Scott’s Instagram postCredit: instagram/@hjgflanagan

The former couple share daughters Matilda, ten, Delilah, seven and four-year-old CharlieCredit: instagram/hjgflanagan
The former Corrie actress blamed petty squabbles and communication issues, yet still remained tight-lipped about her ex.

But overnight, tensions between the pair appear to have hit DEFCON 1.

Helen, 35, flipped her lid when she spotted photos of Scott, 36, living the high life at the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, skipping their four-year-old son’s Christmas nativity play.

Lashing out online at the retired Bristol Rovers footballer, she raged: “You really are a piece of s**t,” ­sharing Scott’s Instagram post.

“How dare you not turn up to ­Charlie’s nativity,” she added.

Scott had posted snaps from his VIP weekend in the United Arab Emirates where he watched Lando Norris secure his maiden Drivers’ Championship title.

Standing in front of a huge F1 sign, he posed gleefully, tagging the post “What a weekend — Abu Dhabi F1.” He added: “Happy Days, blurry nights.”

Meanwhile, Helen shared a sweet snap of her cuddling their young son, captioning it: “Loved Charlie’s nativity. My star, my heartbeat.”

But when she spotted Scott’s jet- setting post, her blood boiled.

Now sources have told The Sun that Helen’s ex’s decision to skip ­Charlie’s school performance was just the tip of the iceberg — a culmination of bad behaviour that has left the telly star fuming.

The former couple share daughters Matilda, ten, Delilah, seven, and four-year-old son Charlie.

Yesterday Helen was spotted looking stony-faced while heading to her latest panto performance in Liverpool, where she is starring as The Wicked Queen in a production of Snow White.

A pal told The Sun: “Helen’s livid with Scott’s behaviour. He’s thinking about himself, not his children.

“She said, ‘I’m done letting him treat his family like this’. At the end of the day Helen is the mother of his kids. He needs to show more respect.”

Another pal said: “Helen is working full-time at the moment in panto so was expecting Scott to cover the nativity and go for her, as she has a lot on her plate and he is retired.

“When he didn’t bother, she wasn’t happy and took to her social media to vent her frustration and make a point.

“Their relationship is difficult at times — co-parenting is hard.”

Boys’ trips

Meanwhile another source close to the couple blames newly single Scott for embracing his “Hot Boy Winter” moment, leaving his family to ­suffer.

“Ever since Scott became single again things started to go downhill,” the source said.

“It’s been an incredibly testing few months for Helen, who feels like she is busting a gut and Scott doesn’t seem to get it.

A source close to the couple blames newly single Scott for embracing his ‘Hot Boy Winter’ moment, above the retired Bristol Rovers footballer shares a 2024 holiday on InstagramCredit: Instagram

Helen and Scott split after 13 years, and had vowed to keep things amicable for their young kidsCredit: Getty
“To make matters worse he is having the children for Christmas this year, which is another blow.”

Last year The Sun told how Scott was dating family friend Lauren Davies, 32, who is from his home city of Bath.

Things were going well up until the start of this year, when they are said to have decided they were better off as friends.

The source said: “Helen really liked Lauren and thought she was really good for Scotty.

You really are a piece of s***. How dare you not turn up to ­Charlie’s nativity

Helen on Instagram

“She has great values and felt it was important that Scott sees his kids and she wanted everyone to get along.

“But since their split, Scott hasn’t been present. He is constantly showing off his wealth online — with his extravagant boys’ trips. It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth.”

According to pals, tensions between Helen and Scott are so bad that the pair have blocked each other on WhatsApp, only communicating through family members.

The Sun also understands Scott wants to sell the £1.5million family home near Bolton and move Helen and the kids into a smaller property.

The eight-bedroom house went on the market in June, but Helen is standing firm. One pal said: “Scott is trying to sell the family home, but Helen has moved six times since Matilda was born.

“And because she is refusing to uproot the children, he’s stopped some of the money he was giving her for the kids. She’s fuming.

Tensions between Helen and Scott are so bad that the pair have blocked each other on WhatsApp and only communicate through family membersCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

To make matters worse he is having the children for Christmas this year, which is another blow, said a sourceCredit: Instagram
“The house is right next to her mum and dad, who take care of the kids while Helen works.

“Scott’s retired so he could have them, but he’s swanning around in Dubai and London and flashing it all over Instagram.

“At the same time he is claiming he can’t afford to give her the money, but he goes and blows £20,000 on the F1.”

Helen’s livid with Scott’s behaviour. He’s thinking about himself, not his children

A pal

The pal said Christmas will be particularly hard for Helen without her kids.

They said: “She is working full-time at the panto and dealing with the kids, with no help from Scott.

“Then he’ll have them at Christmas and post it all over Instagram, claiming to be dad of the year. He’s picking and choosing when he wants to help, but parenting doesn’t work like that.

“Helen has supported him for his whole football career and moved all over the country, but she’s adamant that she doesn’t want to uproot the kids and cause more disruption in their lives.”

This comes after Helen signed up to star in reality TV show Celebrity Ex On The Beach, in which she intends to “cause fireworks”.

Last month we revealed she was abroad filming scenes — and will not be holding back when it comes to getting what she wants.

Number blocked

It is not the first time the couple’s co-parenting relation- ship has been tested, with Helen previously saying Scott had her number blocked on his phone.

In October 2024 she told a podcast: “I’m on block at the moment on Scott’s phone. I really am. I’m on block.” However, she later said that the couple were on speaking terms so that they could co-parent their brood.

To make matters worse he is having the children for Christmas this year, which is another blow

Source

But in recent months things appear to have taken a turn again, as Helen hinted at trouble.

Earlier this month she told The Sun: “He lives in Somerset and I live in Lancashire. So we live so far away from each other, which is really difficult when you’ve got three young children.

“I hate calling it co-parenting because I don’t really feel like a co-parent, to be honest with you.”

Reflecting on their split in 2024, Helen told The Sun: “It was a mutual decision and personally, I felt as a mum that this was the best thing for my children.

“I want them to see healthy relationships and to be in healthy environments. I think if you’re unhappy then that projects on to them.”

She added: “I love Scott and I know that he loves me, but I suppose we just don’t like each other very much at the moment.

“We don’t really speak and there’s no point in pretending that we’re the best of friends when we’re not.”

Both Helen and Scott were approached for comment.

Helen during a panto performance in Liverpool, where she is starring as The Wicked Queen in a production of Snow WhiteCredit: Splash