Craig: I’m looking for love but online matches just want Strictly gossip

STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has signed up to a dating site as he seeks his own partner.

The 52-year-old is looking for love following his split from boyfriend Damon Scott last year.

But despite using his real name and photo on his profile he admits he has only had one date since joining match.com – and his matches seem to be interested only in hearing gossip about his hit BBC show.

Craig said: “It’s not going particularly well. People don’t ask if I want to go out, it’s all about Strictly.

“It’s odd me being on there but why can’t I, if everyone else is? Just because I’m in the public eye doesn’t mean I can’t be on dating sites.

“My niece married her Tinder date so it does work for some people. And people are vetted online. They have to have a credit card.

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“You know their likes and dislikes, you know a lot more than you would do if you picked them up in a bar.”

The star agreed to one date with a mystery man who took him to a restaurant in London’s West End. They had fun but there was no spark.

And a lot of the approaches he has had were from men who feared someone has stolen his identity.

Craig said: “I’ve had a lot of complaints. People think I’m someone else masquerading as me.

“One said, ‘I’m reporting you for using someone else’s photo, it’s disgusting, you should be ashamed.’ I replied, ‘I am me!’ It’s funny.”

Craig said his three-year union with Damon, 37, ended because of his packed schedule. But Damon claimed they split because Craig had a drink problem. The allegation, which Craig denies, hurt all the more as he had just lost his dad Phil to alcoholism.

The 74- year- old had a lifelong battle with booze and died of blood poisoni ng after downing homebrew rum.

Craig said: “No matter how much you think you might love someone, you can’t rely on them. It just makes you a l i t t l e bit more vigilant. I sort of felt sorry for Damon in a way.” Craig missed Phil’s funeral because showbiz commitments meant he could not travel home to Australia. But he made a pilgrimage to the grave during a visit this year and feels like he has made peace. He said: ““I did what he would have l loved. I planted radishes on his grave. He loved rad radishes. It was peaceful. H He’s now without the a alcohol, without th the pain, without th the torment.” We met in C Craig’s West E End dressing room, where he is transforming into drunken orphanage mism i s t r e s s Miss Han Hannigan to star in mus musical Annie. He took over from Miranda Hart and will play thee role until the end of November. mber.

He does his ownwn make-up, from the false eyelasheselashes to the pillarbox-red lipstick. “I try to vamp her up, though I don’t know if the photos suggest est that.”

And Craig revealseveals he drew on childhood ood experiences for the part, art, adding: “Miss Hannigannigan is surrounded by misbehaving children she can’tan’t control then has to retire to her room and drink gin. Shehe is looking for love but she turnsurns to drink because she hasn’t got anything else in her life.

“Alcoholism iss a disease and she’s got that,at, she can’t deal with the dayy without it.

“I can relate e to her. That’s what my father was like, he was an unreason-