The Strictly Come Dancing judge said he had adapted his style amid heightened scrutiny of the show
Craig Revel Horwood, the Australian-born dancer and TV star who is the only original judge on Strictly Come Dancing, has admitted that he’s had to adapt his judging approach over concerns that it might now be perceived as bullying. In an interview with Radio Times, Revel Horwood disclosed having softened his traditional sharp commentary.
Craig, 59, said: “I have changed my style of judging. I was really harsh 20 years ago. When I look back, I think, ‘Ooh, that’s cutting’.” He went on to clarify that such remarks “would now be classed as bullying, and then I’d be cancelled.”
Despite this, he insisted he wasn’t altering his ways out of “fear of being cancelled” but was instead looking to be “more like a teacher than a judge”. The renowned judge noted a shift from being “very direct” to opting to “wrap the truth in a nice way”.
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Some contestants from previous seasons of the BBC One dance series, currently in its 20th anniversary year, have criticised their experiences, leading to changes to ensure better care. Actress Amanda Abbington, participating in the 2023 series, brought up issues with her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, claims which he denies.
Nonetheless, the BBC took action, apologising after backing some of Abbington’s grievances following an investigation.
In response to such concerns, Strictly introduced new care protocols, which included the presence of chaperones within rehearsal spaces. Regarding the updates, Craig Revel Horwood said: “Things have to change. These dancers are world champions – they’ve been taught properly to win, and the only way you’re going to achieve that is by someone driving you. That’s embedded in their DNA, you can’t just change that overnight.”
“That’s very different to a celebrity who’s a novice coming in. Celebrities are sensitive because they’re in the public domain. They’ve got reputations to protect and don’t want to be seen looking stupid. So it’s about having someone there in the room and guarding both the celebrity and the professional, and also encouraging the fact that it should be fun.”
“They still need to be pushed, because we can’t get away from the fact that dancing is hard, but it’s a light entertainment programme as well.”
Revel Horwood also revealed his plans to publish all the negative comments and so-called death threats he has received over the years in a future book to “shame them”.