Craig Revel Horwood reveals Strictly format cha-cha-changes
The Strictly Come Dancing judge has revealed how Beeb bosses are making changes to the format.
Craig Revel Horwood on SCD.
Speaking to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on today’s episode of This Morning, Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood detailed changes to the BBC One celebrity dance contest’s current format:
“This year is going to be very interesting. Like Australia, they’re taking a leaf out of Australia’s book, and of course Dancing with the Stars in America, the judges will be dancing. I don’t know that Shirley Ballas knows that yet, but she will. Scoop!… We’ll dance with the contestants. You put yourself on the line, so to speak.”
Craig noted how he’s already worked to the incoming format over in Australia telling the ITV morning show ‘I absolutely loved it there… I danced with Courtney Act, which was absolutely fantastic. It was brilliant to come into the room to choreograph and to actually create an entire scenario and star in it yourself. And then be judged, that’s sort of the big thing… And I’m up, as most people know, for absolutely anything.’
Darcey Bussell has quit the series.
Speaking on the departure of co-judge Darcey Bussell he admitted that he had been ‘shocked’ by the announcement and he had been given no firm indication his fellow Strictly judge was planning to depart the television ballroom for the final time.
“I was shocked, I’ve got to say, because I didn’t know that was going to happen. There was only a slight suggestion on the tour, but nothing more and I never thought that would actually happen because she is one of my best mates and I love sitting next to her. I love the fact she was whacking me with her paddle!”
As they were, the Strictly Come Dancing judges, Bruno Tonioli, Darcy Bussell, Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas.
When questioned as to who Darcey’s replacement might be on this year’s Strictly judging panel, Craig revealed very little, saying that he simply hasn’t been informed of the incoming replacement by BBC bosses. ‘They haven’t told me, but they have told me that it is someone that can actually dance. So that’s good. And also, it needs to be someone opinionated… I love Anton, he would be great. Any of the ex-dancers would be fantastic, but I don’t know is the honest truth. They won’t tell me because my gob’s too big!’ he noted.
Eamonn thought Darcey’s replacement could easily be James Jordan, to which Craig responded: “That’s unlikely, darling.” Craig went on to discuss meeting his current partner, Jonathan on dating app Tinder:
“I did meet my partner, Jonathan on Tinder… I set the net wide, darling. 300 miles! Because I was on tour at the time and it was brilliant, because I wasn’t actually looking for someone specific in that way. At least you get to know their age, what they look like before you meet up with them. And we had a power meeting, which was literally just like an hour over avocado and eggs. And we’ve been together ever since… He’s a horticulturalist… He’s so green-fingered that I’m putting a vineyard into my house.”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV, STV and UTV.
