Strictly Viewers Outraged by 'Cruel' Judge Comments
Strictly Come Dancing fans have expressed widespread anger following judge Craig Revel Horwood's controversial critique of contestant George Clarke's emotionally charged performance dedicated to his mother, who is battling cancer. The incident occurred during the live show broadcast on November 15, 2025, sparking immediate backlash across social media platforms.
The Emotional Performance That Divided the Judges
TikTok star George Clarke, aged 25, took to the dancefloor with his professional partner Alexis Warr, also 25, performing a moving rumba to a piano version of Lily Allen's Somewhere Only We Know. The song held profound personal significance for George, having been played at his grandfather's funeral, while the entire routine served as a tribute to his family, particularly his mother who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
The performance left the studio audience and three judges visibly emotional. Head judge Shirley Ballas, along with Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke, praised George's heartfelt interpretation and storytelling ability. Anton declared he 'loved' the narrative, while Motsi complimented the dance as 'really very, very beautiful' from an emotional perspective.
Craig Revel Horwood's Controversial Critique
However, the mood shifted dramatically when Craig Revel Horwood, 60, delivered his assessment. Drowned out by boos from the studio audience, the longest-serving judge began by stating: 'Actually, it wasn't a rumba. So for me, it was difficult to judge.'
While acknowledging that the story was 'absolutely magnificent' and that George would 'win the audience votes with this,' Craig concluded that the performance 'technically was not great' and described it as more of a 'contemporary' piece. He finished with the blunt statement: 'Unfortunately, you won't win my vote.'
The couple ultimately received a total score of 29 points, including a six from Craig, placing them third from bottom on the leaderboard among the eight remaining couples.
Social Media Backlash and Fan Support
Viewers quickly took to social media to express their support for George and their disapproval of Craig's delivery. Many described the feedback as 'cruel,' 'patronising,' and 'spiteful', urging the judge to 'read the room' given the sensitive nature of the performance's dedication.
One user, @pinkhillss, raged: '"you won't get my vote" craig says about a dance dedicated to not only george's late grandad but ALSO his mum with cancer...read the room craig.'
Another viewer, @molly_oliviak, highlighted the insensitivity of Craig's suggestion that the story would win votes, writing: 'he did that for his family not for the public and it felt like quite a rude and massively unnecessary comment to make when the subject matter is so sensitive.'
Despite the criticism, some viewers defended Craig's position, arguing that he was simply 'telling the truth' about the technical aspects of the dance and maintaining that, while beautiful, the performance 'wasn't a rumba.'
George Clarke's Personal Connection
In a pre-recorded video package before his dance, George had explained the deeply personal motivation behind his performance. He revealed that his mother had been diagnosed with encephalitis, a brain inflammation condition, when he was 16, and had recently received a cancer diagnosis.
'Nobody deserves what she's gone through,' George said emotionally. 'There's not a lot I can do to help, so to give her this is special.'
Following his performance, which his visibly emotional parents watched from the audience, George told host Claudia Winkleman: 'You can tell your family you love them as much as you want, but it's very rare to be able to have an opportunity to give them something. So that's kind of what I wanted to do.'
George's Graceful Response
Demonstrating remarkable grace under pressure, George later took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the situation with his 94,000 followers. He acknowledged the technical shortcomings while expressing pride in achieving his primary goal.
'Aware that wasn't the most technically gifted dance we've done (nor was it anywhere the best we performed it, was slightly overwhelmed haha) BUT I am so unbelievably happy we got the opportunity to do that and tell a story,' he wrote.
He added sweetly: 'Your votes would be much appreciated but since the start of the show that's the main thing I wanted to do so even being able to show you that is enough. Love you all x.'
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension in Strictly Come Dancing between technical precision and emotional storytelling, particularly when performances touch upon deeply personal and sensitive subjects. The incident has sparked broader conversations about the appropriate tone for judge feedback when contestants share vulnerable personal stories through their dances.
