Fury as Strictly’s Craig says: I liked the rape scenes in Game of Thrones
STRICTLY judge Craig Revel Horwood sparked outrage by admitting that he ‘liked’ the rape scenes in Game of Thrones.
The BBC faced calls to sack the 51-year-old last night after a charity described his remarks as ‘deeply disrespectful’.
Revel Horwood made the comments on the post-watershed Channel 4 comedy panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats earlier this week.
Asked by host Jimmy Carr whether he watched fantasy drama Game of Thrones, which has attracted criticism for its depictions of sexual violence, he said: ‘No, I persevered for the first series until the dragon came on and that’s when I switched off.
‘I liked all the sex scenes and the rape and I liked the cleavers through the skulls. I liked all of that but I got very bored in the end.’
The studio audience laughed, but Irish actress Aisling Bea, a team captain on the panel, threw her hands up in shock and asked: ‘Am I the only one who heard that? What world are we living in? Oh, [Donald] Trump’s world, fine, keep going.’
Comedienne Katherine Ryan also looked on in disgust but the show continued.
Last night, Revel Horwood broke his silence over the remarks, saying: ‘I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused by my comments.’
But Marilyn Hawes, founder of the charity Enough Abuse UK, argued that the TV star had no place on BBC family favourite Strictly Come Dancing given his ‘mindset’ on rape.
She said: ‘Craig’s comments are deeply disrespectful.
‘Rape is the most devastating and vile crime and I would have to question him as a person and his merit as a judge on the Strictly Come Dancing panel.
‘His comment would have enraged many women and men who have been raped. How could he say he liked that?
‘You cannot have people on a family show with that mindset. I think the BBC should get rid of him. It is so distressing for people who’ve been raped to hear that.
‘When you are in such a highprofile position you cannot afford to make comments like this ... it’s jaw-droppingly awful.
‘I’m a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing. It’s not a reflection on his ability as a judge or dancer. However, it is going on in his mind, which is concerning.’
A spokesman for Rape Crisis England and Wales also con-
‘The BBC should get rid of him’
demned Revel Horwood, saying: ‘The comments were undoubtedly insensitive and likely very throwaway.
‘We only ask that those in the public eye consider the very many rape survivors in their audiences before they refer to what is such a traumatic and violent crime to experience so casually.’
Game of Thrones has featured numerous scenes of sexual violence, including the rape of Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke, in series one.
Another harrowing scene in the fifth series sparked outcry from viewers after it was first aired on US channel HBO. In it, Sophie Turner’s character Sansa Stark was raped by her husband Ramsay Bolton, played by Iwan Rheon, on their wedding night.
Asked about the controversy, Rheon said: ‘I was surprised by the outcry because I thought that [the writers] had handled it, creatively, very well.’
But the backlash from fans – many of whom branded the scene ‘gratuitous’ on social media – led to the show’s directors agreeing to change the way sexual violence was depicted.
Australian-born Revel Horwood started his dance career in Melbourne, before moving to Europe to join the Lido de Paris.
His work in the UK began with a tour of the musical Cats, and has extended to several West End productions including Miss Saigon and Crazy For You.
Revel Horwood has been a judge on Strictly Come Dancing since it started in 2004.
Earlier this year, he split from his long-term partner, puppeteer Damon Scott.
The BBC last night declined to comment on his Game of Thrones remarks.