# George Clarke (internet personality)
**George Clarke**, known online as **George Clarkey**, is an English social media personality, YouTuber, and podcast host who built a following of more than 3 million fans with comedy sketches, reaction videos, and commentary on entertainment and gaming trends.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) He co-hosts The Useless Hotline podcast with [Max Balegde](https://www.edgepedia.org/max-balegde) and reached a mainstream television audience in 2025 as a runner-up on the twenty-third series of *Strictly Come Dancing*.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | George Arthur Clarke, born in 1999 and raised in Bristol, England[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) |
| Online handles | TikTok and Instagram @georgeclarkeey, YouTube @georgeclarkey[2](https://website.beacons.ai/i/blog/george-clarke-bio) |
| Audience | More than 2.3 million TikTok followers; over 614,000 YouTube subscribers and 48 million channel views; more than 3 million fans across platforms[3](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) |
| Podcast | Co-founder of The Useless Hotline with Max Balegde in late 2022, a phone-in/advice show that reached number 1 on the UK podcast charts in its first week[4](https://www.encephalitis.info/team/george-clarke/) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) |
| Television | Fifth place on series 2 of the Sidemen's Netflix series *Inside* (2025); joint runner-up on *Strictly Come Dancing* series 23 with professional partner Alexis Warr[5](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/) |
| Charity role | Ambassador for Encephalitis International; his mother has been diagnosed with encephalitis[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) |
| Family | Son of Sean Clarke, managing director of Aardman Animations; older sister Emily[5](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/) |
## Early life and background
Clarke grew up in Bristol with his parents and his older sister Emily.[3](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/) His father, Sean Clarke, has managed [Aardman Animations](https://www.edgepedia.org/aardman-animations), the Bristol studio behind *Wallace & Gromit* and *Shaun the Sheep*, since 1998; Clarke has said his pet mouse was named Gromit after the studio's first character.[5](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/) • [3](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/) He attended Collegiate School in Bristol, a private school, and played for the Downend Rangers football club in his youth.[5](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/) He then studied Sports and Exercise Science at the [University of Exeter](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-exeter).[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html)
Some profile sites list his birthplace as [Hampshire](https://www.edgepedia.org/hampshire), England, rather than Bristol; the discrepancy appears only in secondary databases.[6](https://extra.ie/2025/08/13/entertainment/who-is-george-clarke-strictly-mum)
## Online career
His first video set the scale of what followed: Clarke posted his first TikTok in December 2019, and the clip received more than five million views within two days, which he has described as the catalyst for his career.[4](https://www.encephalitis.info/team/george-clarke/) • [7](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mvemanagement_welcome-to-team-margravine-george-activity-6914536342399893504-zaKD) His content centers on situational comedy, POV jokes, reaction videos, and commentary on viral trends, with material often drawn from family interactions and student life.[8](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/george-clarke---tiktok.html) He is known for comedic impressions of the character Will McKenzie and for viral series including Finding the Beep, The Ick, and The Reduced Section.[7](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mvemanagement_welcome-to-team-margravine-george-activity-6914536342399893504-zaKD)
**Collaborations and reach.** Clarke's following grew to over 2.3 million on TikTok and over 614,000 YouTube subscribers, with his channel passing 48 million views, and he counts more than 3 million fans across his platforms overall.[3](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/) • [1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) He has collaborated with the Sidemen, the YouTube group that includes [Britain's Got Talent](https://www.edgepedia.org/britains-got-talent) judge KSI, and with creators including [ChrisMD](https://www.edgepedia.org/chrismd), Stephen Tries, and ItalianBach.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) • [6](https://extra.ie/2025/08/13/entertainment/who-is-george-clarke-strictly-mum) In 2025 he was selected to play in the Sidemen's charity football match at [Wembley Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/wembley-stadium), where his Sideman FC side lost by a single penalty to the YouTube All Stars.[3](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/) In March 2025 he competed on the second series of the Sidemen's Netflix reality competition *Inside*, finishing in fifth place.[5](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/)
## The Useless Hotline podcast
In late 2022 Clarke launched The Useless Hotline with fellow TikTok creator Max Balegde.[4](https://www.encephalitis.info/team/george-clarke/) The show follows a phone-in/advice format: listeners submit questions, dilemmas, or stories, and the two hosts answer with what they describe as humor and honesty rather than guaranteed good advice.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) • [6](https://extra.ie/2025/08/13/entertainment/who-is-george-clarke-strictly-mum) The podcast reached number 1 on the UK charts in its first week, and later episodes have featured guests including comedian [Katherine Ryan](https://www.edgepedia.org/katherine-ryan) and singer [JoJo Siwa](https://www.edgepedia.org/jojo-siwa).[4](https://www.encephalitis.info/team/george-clarke/) • [3](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/) The podcast's YouTube channel has about 132,000 subscribers.[6](https://extra.ie/2025/08/13/entertainment/who-is-george-clarke-strictly-mum)
## Strictly Come Dancing
Clarke was announced as the sixth contestant for the twenty-third series of *Strictly Come Dancing* in 2025, saying he had "no idea what I'm doing" ahead of his first routine.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) The pair reached the December final and finished as joint runners-up alongside Amber Davies and [Nikita Kuzmin](https://www.edgepedia.org/nikita-kuzmin), with the public vote going to former England footballer [Karen Carney](https://www.edgepedia.org/karen-carney) and her partner Carlos Gu.[9](https://emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2026/01/EGV-FEB-2026.pdf) On the show he spoke publicly about his mother's experience with encephalitis to raise awareness of the condition.[4](https://www.encephalitis.info/team/george-clarke/) After the final, Clarke and Warr continued as "Team Warrkey" on the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour, which played 31 shows at nine arenas around the UK.[9](https://emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2026/01/EGV-FEB-2026.pdf) He was the third YouTuber to compete on the show, after [Joe Sugg](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-sugg) (2018) and Saffron Barker (2019).[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html)
## Charity work
Clarke is an ambassador for the non-profit Encephalitis International, which supports people affected by brain inflammation.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) His mother survived the condition, which she has said included an induced coma with a 20 percent chance of survival, and she later experienced permanent loss of long-term memory, taste, and smell.[10](https://podcastrex.com/shows/great-company-with-jamie-laing/george-clarke-friends-from-work-being-an-introvert-why-his-mum-is-his-hero) • [6](https://extra.ie/2025/08/13/entertainment/who-is-george-clarke-strictly-mum) A fundraising link for the Encephalitis Society appears on his Instagram profile.[8](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/george-clarke---tiktok.html)
## Personal life
Clarke has dated the model Yasmin Bennett, also reported as Yasmin Amelia, who is signed to J'Adore Models; he confirmed the relationship to fans on a livestream, saying he preferred a relationship that was known but private rather than a complete secret.[1](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html) • [5](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/) In 2026, [Bath Spa University](https://www.edgepedia.org/bath-spa-university) awarded him an honorary doctorate of arts at its summer graduation ceremonies, citing his online work and his fundraising for Encephalitis International.[11](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bath-spa-university_wearebsu-bsu-graduation-activity-7484985490560131072-zjzm)
## Not the same person as the architect
Clarke shares his full name with the British architect and television presenter [George Clarke](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-clarke-architect), born in 1974, who hosts [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) property series such as *George Clarke's Amazing Spaces* and *The Restoration Man*. The two are unrelated, and the shared name causes frequent confusion in searches and among viewers.[5](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/) • [3](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/)
## References
1. [George Clarke: Influencer swapping YouTube for the dancefloor on Strictly, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/george-clarke-strictly-youtube-podcast-b2852134.html)
2. [George Clarke Bio: Age, Family & Facts, Beacons](https://website.beacons.ai/i/blog/george-clarke-bio)
3. [George Clarke profile: From social media star to Strictly favourite, TV Guide UK](https://www.tvguide.co.uk/articles/george-clarke-profile-social-media-strictly-come-dancing-favourite/)
4. [George Clarke, Ambassador, Encephalitis International](https://www.encephalitis.info/team/george-clarke/)
5. [George Strictly – Biography, Age, Partner and Journey 2025, Press Native](https://pressnative.co.uk/world/george-strictly-2025-bio/)
6. [Who is George Clarke? TikToker joins Strictly Come Dancing, Extra.ie](https://extra.ie/2025/08/13/entertainment/who-is-george-clarke-strictly-mum)
7. [Welcome to Team Margravine George, MVE Management on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mvemanagement_welcome-to-team-margravine-george-activity-6914536342399893504-zaKD)
8. [George Clarke - Age, Bio, Family, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/george-clarke---tiktok.html)
9. [George off on tour after Strictly final, Emersons Green Voice (February 2026)](https://emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2026/01/EGV-FEB-2026.pdf)
10. [George Clarke: Friends From Work, Being an Introvert & Why his Mum is his Hero, Great Company with Jamie Laing](https://podcastrex.com/shows/great-company-with-jamie-laing/george-clarke-friends-from-work-being-an-introvert-why-his-mum-is-his-hero)
11. [Bath Spa University Summer 2026 Honorary Doctorate announcement](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bath-spa-university_wearebsu-bsu-graduation-activity-7484985490560131072-zjzm)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Online creators and internet personalities › Comedy and prank creators › Sketch and vlog comedians › Sketch comedy creators*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license