STRICTLY’S Craig Revel Horwood has taken aim at his co-stars, insisting he is the only judge that matters.
The star, 60, blasted Shirley Ballas, 64, Anton Du Beke, 58, and Motsi Mabuse, 43, and claimed he alone was behind the show’s continuing success.
Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood has taken aim at his co-stars, insisting he is the only judge that matters[/caption]
Judge Craig blasted Shirley Ballas, 64, Anton Du Beke, 58, and Motsi Mabuse[/caption]
In a comment writing off original head judge Len Goodman and axed Arlene Phillips, acid-tongued Craig said: “There is no other judge. I created it. They are either dead or have been sacked.”
Playing up to his notoriety, he added: “I get booed heavily but I enjoy playing the villain.”
It came as uncertainty grew over the future of some of the long-standing stars on the show.
Craig, a Strictly veteran of 21 years, was pulling no punches on the first night of his UK tour, Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing.
He joked that his comments about Len, who died in 2023 aged 78, and Arlene, 81, who was axed in 2009, and the later judges would help him sell tickets for the show.
Craig laughed: “We are going to be in the news. We need it as this is the beginning of the tour and we need to sell the tour.”
Craig, paid around £200,000 a year for Strictly, went on to rap the Beeb for making him change the name of his third autobiography.
He was barred from calling it Strictly Confidential because it used the word Strictly and had to make do with In Strictest Confidence.
Cruel Craig has form for laying into co-stars and in a book tour in 2018 he accused Strictly judge Tess Daly, 56, of asking “dull questions”.
He also had a dig at Shirley’s breasts, saying: “I am not joking. Her boobs were . . . hanging out. It was not very, erm, Strictly.”
Last year, he admitted that he had toned down his judging style as it would not be allowed today.
He said: “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.”
Meanwhile, professional dancers Gorka Márquez, 34, Nadiya Bychkova, 35, and Johannes Radebe, 37, could be purged from the show.
They joined in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.
It comes as younger dancers, including Jowita Przystal, 30, and Nikita Kuzmin, 27, have dazzled Beeb executives.
Pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova could be purged from the dance contest[/caption]
Spaniard Gorka, who is engaged to ex-contestant Gemma Atkinson, 40, has said he hates being away for his Manchester-based family for six months a year to film Strictly.
South African Johannes has been busy touring as the lead role in Kinky Boots The Musical and has been inundated with offers.
Ukrainian Nadiya, who split from fellow professional dancer Kai Widdrington, 29, last summer, has not been a major feature of the show in recent years.
A telly source said: “There could be a huge shake up.
“Gorka wants to spend more time with his family and really dislikes being away from his two young children.
“He’s also had a series of injuries in recent years.
“Johannes has become a huge breakout star in his own right and has received some huge, lucrative work offers.
“Basically, that means he might not have time for Strictly any more because it just doesn’t make financial sense.
“Nadiya hasn’t lasted long in the competition in recent years and wasn’t given a partner at all a few years ago, so it might be that she has come to the end of the road.
“The Strictly troupe is constantly being reviewed as there is always fresh blood and new talent to replace the fading stars.
“It’s a two-way street as well because some of the dancers are ready to move on.
“None of them took part in the recent Strictly tour. They pursued their own projects instead.”
A BBC spokesman said last night: “We will announce the pros for 2025 in due course.”
Gorka Marquez says he hates being away for his Manchester-based family for six months a year to film Strictly[/caption]
South African Johannes has been busy touring as the lead role in Kinky Boots The Musical[/caption]
