Craig Revel Horwood
The sharp-tongued judge shares his thoughts on potential Strictly finalists – and explains his harsh words are all for a good cause!
We’ve firmly foxtrotted our way into the Strictly season now, with nine hopeful couples left vying for the glitter ball trophy. We may have a new head judge this year with Shirley Ballas replacing Len, but it’s Craig Revel Horwood’s comments that celebrities and their professional partners wait for with bated breath after each per formance.
His feedback is sometimes hard for the celebrities to hear – is he getting more strict with each passing year?
“Oh maybe I am,” he smiles. “I don’t know. Probably, because of the balance of Shirley, our new head judge. I guess I come in quite strong with opinion.
“You have to be very direct, very to the point rather than just waves of love. You don’t learn anything from that and certainly my ballet teacher was never kind!” he laughs.
“There’s only one way I became a good dancer and that was through hard work, and good criticism, that you can use and make yourself better. It’s better to tell them what’s wrong with the dance rather than just be all loveydovey, all embracing, all kind and considerate.
“There’s no time for that. I have 10 seconds to speak and I’ve got to make it count for that celebrity. I’m short, sharp and to the point!”
With many fans of the show saying that this year’s line-up is one of the best ever, Craig admits that he himself has been surprised by several of this year’s celebs.
“I’m loving Debbie McGee because she’s a big surprise. I know her really as a ‘tada!’ girl and probably a bit of a contortionist, hidden in boxes somewhere and popping out of them. I didn’t think she’d be able to do battement, which is a high kick.
“I think she was a real surprise to the audience because we have a lot of 58-year-olds in the audience at home who would love to get up and dance. She’s fantastic.”
The two others who have been wowing us all week after week with their prowess on the dance floor, regularly topping the results table, are Alexandra Burke and Aston Merrygold. Craig thinks both stand an excellent chance of getting to the final.
“Alexandra Burke has
“It’s better to tell them what’s wrong with the dance rather than be all lovey-dovey”
surprised me. Most people do know that I have directed her and choreographed her in Sister Act, in the last year. However, that was just step touching and all very spiritual movement, in habits, so you couldn’t see her body or legs! On Strictly she is exposed and I didn’t think she’d do as well as she’s doing.
“Aston I think is amazing. He’s calmed down a bit because he was doing a lot of showing off stuff – save that for the final, darling! But I think he’s got a good chance of getting to the final. I think Alex has got a good chance of getting to the final, too.
“If votes are on Debbie’s side I think she has a good chance, but you just don’t know where it’s going to go
“Ann Widdecombe got to week eleven and I would have predicted she’d be first out. She became the nation’s sweetheart, didn’t she?
Like the audience at home who voted for him in their thousands, Craig was also a big fan of Ed Balls.
“Ed Balls was brilliant. Dad dancing – and he had the confidence to sail through it. He looked dreadful doing it but I loved him!
“I loved his Gangnam Style – that was brilliant. And we replicated that on the tour and then he challenged me to get up and dance it and I did of course – and better than him, too!”