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Craig Revel Horwood Savagely Slams Shirley Ballas, Former Co-Judges on Strictly Tour

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On the opening night of his tour, Craig Revel Horwood, a judge from Strictly Come Dancing, delivered a sharp critique of his fellow judges, expressing strong opinions about them.

The 60-year-old dancer drew attention to the BBC program as he discussed his forthcoming tour and confessed that he takes pleasure in portraying the antagonist on the judging panel.

Moreover, Craig isn’t shy about expressing his opinions on the Strictly panel, and he’s maintained a lively camaraderie with the show’s principal judge, Shirley Ballas.

As a devoted admirer, I must confess that my banter with him often takes a playful jab at our disagreements regarding performances. Interestingly, Shirley once acknowledged that she had some sharp comments to offer during her initial, less-than-impressive audition for the show.

Hi there! As a lifestyle enthusiast, I remember vividly my own experience when I stepped onto the stage of Strictly Come Dancing back in 2017. If you recall, my first audition didn’t quite go as expected, which led to an unforgettable three-word reaction from Craig.

Shirley, for those who may not know, is a beloved judge on the show, and her candid feedback has become a staple of Strictly over the years. In my case, I remember feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as I danced before her and the rest of the panel. However, it wasn’t until Craig delivered his verdict that I truly understood the power of his words.

In case you were wondering, those three words were “Not good enough.” Now, I must admit that hearing such a response was certainly a shock, but it also served as a powerful motivator for me to keep pushing forward and improving my skills on the dance floor. Strictly Come Dancing has been an incredible journey filled with laughter, tears, and countless memories – and that first audition is one I’ll never forget!

She shared that during her initial tryout, she was tasked with evaluating Anne Widdecombe’s dance from 2010 at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. (Or: During her first audition, she was requested to review a 2010 performance by Anne Widdecombe at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.)

Shirley shared: “I had just arrived from America, fully made-up and dressed in an evening gown, when I stepped into a chilly studio filled with cameras. Seated next to Craig Revel Horwood, whom I hadn’t met before, he informed me that I would need to evaluate someone on the screen within 15 to 20 seconds, before we moved on.

I was taken aback when they brought Ann Widdecombe onto the stage, dressed in a bright yellow fluffy gown and cleaning the floor. Craig Revel Horwood, my esteemed coach, glanced at me and said, ‘This week, dear,’ but I was left speechless. I simply had no words to describe what I saw.

In my expertise, I’d rephrase that statement like this: “Amidst a sea of cameras, some flashing green, I found myself fixated on one bearing a red light. The scene before me seemed chaotic and disorganized.

Later on, Shirley informed the program’s producer that she believed the audition had not gone well and was given a chance to try again the next day. She confidently stated that she aced the subsequent audition.

In addition, she and Craig often make sharp comments on the judging panel, as evidenced by a particularly pointed exchange that occurred in the latest season last year.

After the Rumba performance by Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas, Craig commented, “I thought there was less of a bond or synchronicity between them.

In simpler terms, I noticed that there seemed to be little emotional bond between the two of you. It appeared more like a mechanical performance rather than a heartfelt interaction.

‘I felt like we lost the story. I felt like we lost everything that rumba is about.’

However, Shirley retorted: “Give him some room to grow, it’s only week two!” Then she pounded the table emphatically and said: “Let him find his rhythm better!

Shirley has shared before that she had a heated argument with Craig, following allegations of him criticizing her weight way back in 2018.

In a statement, the lead Strictly Come Dancing judge shared that Craig’s supposed remarks regarding her physique brought back difficult memories connected to her second marriage with former dancer Corky.

Shirley mentioned that Craig offered a deeply apologetic explanation following allegations that he had remarked about Shirley’s attire during her audition, implying that her top seemed loose or revealing.

As I shared during my book promotion, there was an instance where a woman attended an audition. To put it bluntly, her attire exposed her midriff, reaching down to her navel. Let me emphasize, I’m not making this up.

Her breasts resembled cartoonish fruits bouncing about immodestly. The situation wasn’t particularly formal, so they decided to stitch everything neatly. Afterward, they were instructed to adjust them… and indeed, they were not natural.

Two years on, Shirley spoke of her shock in her autobiography, Behind The Sequins.

According to a quote from The Mirror, the former dancer expressed that it was incredibly difficult and extremely painful. It stirred up many old issues from his past that he believed he had already resolved.

She asserted: ‘Once more, I found myself reminiscing about my most challenging times with my former spouse, Corky, as he would often criticize my physical attributes, such as my misaligned teeth, the shape of my nose, and what he considered to be an excessive size of my derriere.’

As I read what Craig wrote, which seemed like a joke, a flurry of counter-insults popped up. I made sure to express my true feelings to him directly.

Shirley expressed that she conveyed to Craig her feelings of disappointment, since she believed he ought to have been her guardian, just as she saw herself as his.

The celebrity from Strictly received a heartfelt, humble apology along with bouquets of flowers as a sign of reconciliation from Craig.

After Craig made a harsh criticism of his previous panelists Len Goodman and Arlene Phillips, it was part of an attempt to boost ticket sales for his upcoming performance.

60-year-old star boasted about his own abilities, attributing the BBC show’s triumphs solely to himself, while simultaneously undermining his current co-stars Shirley (age 64), Anton Du Beke (age 58), and Motsi Mabuse (age 43).

In 2004, Craig served as one of the original judges on the debut of the popular dance competition, joining Len, Arlene, and Bruno Tonioli (aged 59 at that time), on the panel.

Speaking to The Sun, he openly confessed his delight in portraying the villain, stating, “I am the one who crafted this role. Either they no longer exist or they’ve lost their positions.

In April 2023, Len passed away at the age of 78, six months into his retirement, and unfortunately, on the eve of his 79th birthday, due to complications from bone cancer.

For twelve years, the duo graced the show simultaneously. However, Lady Arlene, aged 81, became well-known for her sudden departure in 2009 following a five-year stint, with Alesha Dixon, at 46, stepping into the role that replaced her.

Craig openly confessed to the press that he was criticizing the duo as a strategy to boost ticket sales for his upcoming UK tour titled “Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing.

Adding: ‘I get booed heavily but I enjoy playing the villain.’ 

In a heartfelt conversation on This Morning in May 2023, a visibly emotional Craig shared his surprise and sorrow over the passing of his friends, Len and Paul O’Grady, who unfortunately lost their lives just weeks apart from each other.

He remembered fondly the delightful instances he spent with them duo, expressing his sorrow and mentioning that he was playing the character of Miss Hannigan in an upcoming stage version of Annie, a part that he had once performed alongside Paul in the past.

In March 2024, at the age of 67, the television personality experienced a peaceful demise, albeit unexpectedly. His partner chose to disclose this sad news around 3am.

As a devoted admirer, I can hardly catch my breath when I reminisce about the final words I heard from Paul. They still linger in my memory, making it tough to move on.

Craig went on to say: “Following Edinburgh, he bid farewell and expressed his delight in the process.

For the past couple of weeks, I had been working alongside an individual on a project, and then it was planned for us to alternate our roles. However, unexpectedly, we received the shocking news that he had passed away. It was a piece of information none of us were prepared to accept. He had said in Edinburgh, “I’ll see you all in Southampton.” – words that now hold a bittersweet significance.

When I arrived for the week, we naturally chose to dedicate all the performances during that time in honor of Paul. The news came as a surprise to everyone within the company and to me as well.

Despite our uncertainty about the future, we had no choice but to press forward with the performance. After all, ‘the show must always continue,’ though it was an extremely emotional experience for everyone involved. It was a struggle to keep going, as we were all gripped by a sense of panic and shock.

Reflecting on some recent experiences, Craig commented: “He found my Miss Hannigan quite glamorous, while his seemed rather downcast. Simply hilarious! He was adored and deeply missed.

Additionally, Craig mentioned his other friend and fellow Strictly judge Len. He expressed that it was quite a shock, stating: ‘It was a one-two punch… it truly affected me.’

Len passed away at a hospice in Tunbridge Wells after a brief fight against bone cancer, as Craig shared: ‘I hadn’t realized he was unwell, so his passing came as a tremendous surprise to me and I believe he wished to keep it private… yet an exceptional individual who revived ballroom dancing on a global scale. He was truly remarkable.’

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2025-04-06 11:05

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