Strictly Come Dancing 2025 quarter-finalist George Clarke and his partner Alexis Warr are worried that their place in the semi-final could be at stake this weekend, if an eerie prophecy comes true
Kathryn Ingate Deputy Editor of Trendswatch
17:00, 06 Dec 2025
George Clarke and Alexis Warr
YouTuber George Clarke, 26, has become a fan favourite on Strictly Come Dancing this year, but his chances to win the BBC show could be scuppered if his friend’s ‘prophecy’ is realised.
TikTok star Max Balegde, 26, who co-hosts The Useless Hotline podcast with George, has discovered some “weird” links with people in his life appearing on reality TV shows, which could either spell success or doom.
Speaking on a recent episode of the podcast, during which George’s professional dance partner Alexis Warr, 25, appeared as a guest, Max revealed he had become “close” with Robert Irwin, son of the late conservationist Steve Irwin, who went on to win Dancing with the Stars in the US this year.
Max pointed out that he found out Robert was set to compete in the dance competition around the same time that George “privately” told him he might be doing Strictly, prior to the BBC’s official announcement.
George and Max previously had Jojo Siwa as a guest on their podcast(Image: Instagram)
Recalling his feelings about the coincidence at the time, Max said: “I was like, this is so weird, like, two people in my life… wow! This must be a sign for me, right? This must be something to do with me.
“So I have a theory that I’m part of a prophecy that people around me, or adjacent to me, are just going to win things. So Robert Irwin won Dancing with the Stars and I believe that that’s because of me, largely, so now it only seems right that George will go on to win Strictly. That’s my prophecy, I’ve not seen it written in stone anywhere…”
“But you’ve also had friends going into different shows and they’ve not won them,” George quickly interjected, to which Max replied: “That’s true, but they don’t really count, because that’s not a dancing show.”
Then, things took a turn, as Max realised that when he’d joined the live audience of Strictly on a previous occasion in Blackpool, his friend Dianne Buswell was voted out of the series with her celebrity partner. He admitted: “I did go to Blackpool and Dianne left the competition, so…”
A panicked Alexis went on to ask Max: “Wait, here’s my question, when are you coming to a show?” Max then revealed he would be in the audience to support George for Musicals Week, which marks this weekend’s quarter-final.
George Clarke and Alexis Warr have impressed Strictly Come Dancing fans(Image: BBC)
The social media star quipped: “If the prophecy is true, you won’t leave until I show up,” prompting George to order his “freaked out” pal to “never turn up”.
Alexis agreed, as she exclaimed: “This prophecy is scaring me,” with Max confessing he “would cry” if his presence leads to his friend losing his spot in next weekend’s semi-final.
“It would then be your fault, by the way,” George cheekily hit back, before Max said he was “feeling physically sick” at the thought of the star missing out.
Max then theorised that he didn’t go to watch Robert Irwin perform live on Dancing with the Stars, and “maybe that’s why he won”.
George Clarke and Alexis Warr performing on Strictly(Image: PA)
Figuring out a solution, Max decided: “If I show up and, for whatever reason, at the point where they do the scores, I’m not speaking this into existence, but you get a below what we expect score, I’m then walking out in time for the public vote. I don’t want to be there because I will then feel like I’m the negative.
“I’m scared guys! I need to counteract it with good luck charms,” he added.
George and Alexis are one of five remaining couples set to compete for the Glitterball trophy, alongside Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, and Lewis Cope and Katya Jones.
Tonight, the couples will aim to avoid the dreaded dance-off and make to next weekend’s semi-final by performing to songs from famous musicals.
A new dance relay challenge has also been added to the quarter-final in order to test the remaining duos.
Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight at 6.50pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
