BBC Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood admits he's toned down his catty comments for one reason

Craig Revel Horwood explains wherefore helium was forced to soften his comments connected Strictly

Craig Revel Horwood has told however helium softened his attack to judging Strictly Come Dancing contestants - different helium would present beryllium cancelled. The harsh judge utilized to beryllium acid-tongued and not clasp back, but helium present often ends his critique connected a affirmative note. “I person changed my benignant of judging,” helium admitted. “I was truly harsh 20 years ago. When I look back, I think, ‘Ooh, that’s cutting.’ It would present beryllium classed arsenic bullying, and past I’d beryllium cancelled.”

But, helium insisted, his new, kinder persona has not travel astir due to the fact that he’s acrophobic of causing a nationalist outcry and helium is not disquieted astir the dancers' emotions either. Craig told Radio Times: “It’s not fearfulness of being cancelled. It’s just, however tin I scope retired to them and assistance them to improve, alternatively than conscionable saying, ‘This is wrong, that’s wrong.’ I’m reasoning much similar a teacher than a judge.

“If the modular is low, I truly haven’t got thing to accidental but what’s incorrect with it. But this bid there’s been an atrocious batch that’s close with everything. They’re overmuch much talented present than they utilized to be. Back then, we had snooker players and politicians, and it was beauteous pugnacious connected radical who couldn’t dance. I was precise direct. I bash inactive accidental what’s wrong, but you tin wrapper the information successful a bully way.”

But contempt Craig, 59, easing up connected his disapproval connected the deed BBC1 show, viewers are inactive giving him maltreatment and helium says helium has capable to constitute a book.

“It volition beryllium hilarious. Over the years I’ve been keeping each these comments and alleged decease threats from radical who person 5 followers and nary creation knowledge, and I’m going to shame them. I work these comments and think, ‘Wonderful, that’s a superb 1 for the book.’ I dainty it each arsenic a cartoon. They can’t adjacent drawstring a condemnation together. I often reply and say, ‘Thanks for the opinion, but possibly you would similar to larn to spell earlier you archer maine what you think, darling.’”

Craig has the honour of being the deed BBC creation series' longest-serving judge, having been grilling and marking its stars since it archetypal aired successful 2004. Only co-host Tess Daly is inactive portion of the archetypal formed and adjacent twelvemonth volition people 2 decades for the brace successful the ballroom.

Speaking to the Mirror successful 2023, arrogant Craig said: "I know, it's amazing, really, I mean, erstwhile we archetypal started out, I truly gave it similar virtually 3 weeks with Len Goodman.

"I was saying there's nary mode it volition last, this is ne'er going to instrumentality disconnected and, of course, I was wholly incorrect and present it's gone to 61 countries worldwide, which is rather frightening.

"It's similar the BBC's biggest flagship endeavor truly and it brings successful a batch of wealth done the BBC Worldwide portion of it. It's conscionable a brilliant, superb thing.

"It's truthful bully that it's not conscionable this state but 61 countries worldwide that emotion it. The format itself has proved itself for longevity arsenic good arsenic entertainment."

* The afloat interrogation is successful Radio Times, retired now.

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