Strictly returns! Craig’s back: ‘Hello dahlings’
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, who is back as best’s fab-u-lous Strictly columnist, spills the beans about this year’s glitter-filled series
Let’s face it, the BBC’s celebrity dance contest, Strictly Come Dancing, without catty Australian judge Craig Revel Horwood would be like a scone without the cream! Thankfully, he’s not going anywhere - and is revving up for another year behind that judging desk, with Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and new judge, former professional dancer on the show, Anton Du Beke. Here, Craig – who is engaged to budding paramedic, Jonathan Myring – talks about what’s in store, the couple’s big life change and why he’s perfectly happy he still has to ‘air kiss…’
Another year, another Strictly! How’ve you been since last year’s series?
Busy. In the first lockdown I penned a book, recorded some songs… pursued other things, but I’m over it now, can’t wait to get back. I’m excited to be involved with best again– because best is the best! The team is fantastic, and I can’t wait to bring you all the goings-on from the Strictly studios, darlings.
Will you be the usual catty Craig we know and love?
I won’t change my judging style because of Covid or anything, no! When I’m judging, I’m professional, when I’m not, I have a laugh, you know? But I’m still going to be every bit as tough on everyone as I always am – it’s about making people better dancers.
Anton joins as a judge – finally! You two go back a long way, don’t you?
To 2004. He’s been a professional dancer throughout 19 series – it’s wonderful that he’s made the leap onto the desk. It was a long time coming. He’ll be the only judge who’s been through Strictly with the celebs – he’s had the good, the bad and the ugly. Anton’s a lovely guy, but he can tell it like it is, he can be quite mouthy! I do feel sorry for Motsi and Shirley, stuck in-between us.
Are you looking forward to seeing hosts Claudia and Tess again?
Yes, though I feel like I haven’t seen them properly for years! I saw them last year, but we couldn’t mix. No bottles of bubbles in each other’s dressing rooms… Covid restrictions will still be in place, there’ll only be a limited studio audience. But I quite like not having to hug and kiss everyone, anyway.
Do you agree with this so-called ‘snogging ban’ Strictly bosses have brought in?
Yes, only because kissing passes on disease and we’re still living in a Covid world, darling – we’ve got to protect the show. There’s still scope for the Strictly ‘curse’, which I don’t believe is a curse. Let people be blessed with love, and flirting!
Who’s exciting you from this year’s line-up?
Someone who’s just won Gold at the Olympics for swimming, Adam Peaty! Also, EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis – Strictly’s first deaf contestant. She’ll show everyone that being deaf isn’t going to stop her, in any way. On the flipside, Judi Love might struggle, and perhaps Dan Walker, due to his height.
There’ll be a male couple dancing together, for the first time…
Yes, about time. It was wonderful to see Katya Jones and boxer Nicola Adams dancing together last year, it’s just a shame Covid put paid to that partnership [Katya tested positive, forcing the couple to leave].
We’ve heard Strictly bosses are worried Love Island’s Maura Higgins will get jealous of whatever gorgeous celeb partner her boyfriend, Giovanni Pernice, is paired with…
Well, he could be paired with a guy – we don’t know! I imagine Maura will have to be kept at arm’s length, yes… But I feel sorry for married
couples, like pros Janette and Aljaž – Janette won’t see Aljaž properly for three months, really – he has to be isolated, that’s tough. But Janette’s off to do It Takes Two. She’s chatty and wonderful to watch on telly, it’s a win-win.
Will your fiancé Jonathan be coming to the Strictly studio to see you on Saturday nights?
Not every weekend. He’s a horticulturalist but is actually retraining to be a paramedic. It’s something he’d always wanted to do, and he re-evaluated what he wanted to do with his life during Covid. You know what your typical Saturday nights are like for the ambulance service… he’ll be really busy on a weekend!
You’re moving to the Midlands, how’s it going?
We’ll be moving during Strictly now. Everything always comes at once! Yes, near Stanford, to be closer to Jonathan’s family. We had a few issues, so we’re just waiting to exchange. My pool parties will continue – we have a pool, a bit deeper than the one we have currently.
We loved the recent ITV series, Craig and Bruno’s Great British Road Trips. Was it fun?
I really enjoyed it! I didn’t know how that was going to go – eight hours in a car with Bruno Tonioli…we had to have breakfast, lunch and dinner together. The only time we weren’t together was when we were sleeping. We did have a few arguments, but we managed not to kill each other.
Will there be any more road-trips from you two?
One’s already on the cards, but a longer series – the last one was a bit short for everybody’s liking! We’ll be exploring Britain again, but it would be nice to do Italy with Bruno, and Australia with me, wouldn’t it? Watch this space…
The Strictly Come Dancing launch show is this Saturday, at 7.45pm on BBC One.