Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood blasts pro dancers and says show ‘isn’t real competition’
Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood said in an online video chat about his career that Strictly is a television show, not a real competition and said the pro dancers are “out to pasture”
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Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood has taken aim at the show’s professional dancers in a furious rant in which he described them as “out to pasture”.
The controversial judge also risked upsetting show bosses after laying into the popular talent show – saying it’s “not a real competition”.
In an online video chat about his career, he said: “With Strictly Come Dancing, I’m judging a television show, it’s not a real [dance] competition.
“It’s celebrities trying to dance with professionals, who have danced all their lives.
“They’re out to pasture. They’re no longer good enough to compete. They have to go through that process, then you go on to Strictly and pass your valuable information on to your partner.”
He added that he regards his work on the show as just “a Saturday job”.
Craig’s outburst could anger the show’s high-profile ballroom stars, such as Katya Jones and Giovanni Pernice.
In October 2018 Craig also launched an attack on presenter Tess Daly and fellow judges Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli.
The Australian judge has branded Daly’s questions on the show “dull”, while he labelled Bruno an “attention-seeker”.
He also claimed Shirley Ballas’ boobs were fake and told Seann Walsh, 34, and Katya Jones, 31 to “get a room”.
Speaking about Shirley, Craig told The Sun: “I showed my book to the BBC and they cut one part about Shirley’s breasts.
“I don’t know if you want to hear it . . . she came to the audition and literally had her thing open to her navel.”
“It was not very, erm, Strictly. So they came in and sewed all that up. Then they had to push them down. And they’re fake.”
Craig later apologised to pal Shirley and sent her flowers.
On last night’s episode Craig lashed out at Jamie Laing and Jacqui Smith after their performances.
He told Jamie, who performed with Karen Hauer: “The ballroom bit was really bad, your bottom was sticking out, you were creeping around like the Grinch, there was gapping all over the place,” he said.
“But all that said, I absolutely loved the opening section, the syncopation, I loved the Fred Astaire lines, it was difficult but some of it was brilliant!” he added.
“I think he loved it, really loved it,” Jamie joked to Claudia about Craig’s comments.
“I think you should prepare yourself for a ten,” said Claudia.
Jacqui performed with her partner Anton du Beke and Craig was even harsher to her, telling her she looked drunk.
“You actually severed your Achilles tendon through that, darling, you were limping about, lost at a party drunk,” he said.
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