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Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has admitted his ‘cutting remarks’ from 20 years ago would be deemed ‘bullying’ now and he’d be cancelled for saying them today.
Known for his no-nonsense critiques and sharp tongue, the long-standing Strictly star shared that he has softened his judging approach on the entertainment show.
He told Radio Times: ‘I have changed my style of judging. I was really harsh 20 years ago. When I look back, I think, “Ooh, that’s cutting.” It would now be classed as bullying, and then I’d be cancelled.’
Revel Horwood, 59, who has been on Strictly since its inception in 2004, sits on the panel with Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas.
He said his approach has shifted toward a more constructive style, where he thinks ‘more like a teacher than a judge.’
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has admitted his ‘cutting remarks’ from 20 years ago would be deemed ‘bullying’ now and he’d be cancelled for saying them today
(L-R) Strictly Come Dancing judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke
The choreographer, who is engaged to horticulturist Jonathan Myring, used to be ‘tough on people who couldn’t dance.’
‘I was very direct. I do still say what’s wrong, but you can wrap the truth in a nice way.’
He added: ‘I’m not there for their emotions. I don’t care how it affects them in that way, because they need to learn and respect my opinion.’
His acidic assessments on the dance show have led to online trolls sending the judge death threats and abuse.
Rather than letting the negativity affect him, Revel Horwood treats the comments as entertainment, often finding humour in the poorly written tirades.
‘I read these comments and think, “Wonderful, that’s a brilliant one for the book.”
‘I treat it all as a cartoon. They can’t even string a sentence together. I often reply and say, “Thanks for the opinion, but perhaps you would like to learn to spell before you tell me what you think, darling”’
It comes as The Mail On Sunday revealed that the BBC, in a drive to attract younger viewers, is scripting some of the judges’ comments for the first time.
Known for his no-nonsense critiques and sharp tongue, the long-standing Strictly star shared that he has softened his judging approach on the entertainment show
The full interview with Craig Revel Horwood is available in the latest edition of Radio Times
The move has not gone down well with the judges, with sources saying they complain the scripted lines are ‘cringe,’ ‘overproduced’ and at times ‘woke’.
Viewers also noticed that Revel Horwood has been less abrasive this series.
One Strictly insider said: ‘The judges feel that the comments they are being told to make feel over-produced. It has been raised and is beginning to cause a problem.’
The latest edition of Radio Times is out now.