Strictly's Kevin Clifton favourite 'to replace Craig Revel Horwood' after 'retirement' comment

Strictly Come Dancing justice Craig Revel Horwood has sparked speculation astir who could regenerate him connected the panel, with a erstwhile victor of the BBC amusement the 'favourite' successful the odds

A erstwhile victor of Strictly Come Dancing is the 'favourite' to regenerate Craig Revel Horwood, it's been revealed.

The long-running BBC amusement continues this play with the archetypal unrecorded amusement of the caller series. The contestants volition vie connected the dancefloor nether the inspection of Craig Revel Horwood, 59, and chap judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

There is already speculation astir a imaginable aboriginal summation to the sheet should Craig - who has teased that helium volition beryllium "hanging up" his dancing shoes adjacent twelvemonth - retire. A survey carried retired by Betway, arsenic reported by the Express, has a erstwhile nonrecreational dancer from the amusement astatine the apical of the odds.

According to the survey, Kevin Clifton, 41, is the 'favourite' for the role, with likelihood of 7/4 connected replacing Craig. Kevin was a dancer connected the amusement from 2013 to 2019. He notably won the amusement with presenter Stacey Dooley, whom he's present successful a narration with, successful 2018. He besides reached the last with 4 different partners, including with Frankie Bridge.

It's been reported that Louie Spence follows down him successful the likelihood astatine 3/1 to regenerate Craig, whilst Diversity subordinate Ashley Banjo holds 3rd spot with likelihood of 5/1. Strictly dancer Neil Jones and erstwhile pro-AJ Pritchard are besides successful the odds. Other names connected the bookmakers' database see Cynthia Erivo, who was a impermanent justice successful 2021, Rylan Clark and erstwhile victor Stacey.

Chad Yeomans, spokesperson astatine Betway, told the outlet: "[Craig] precocious admitted that his dancing days are implicit but vowed helium won't beryllium retiring anytime soon. However, the Strictly judge, who has been connected the amusement since time one, volition crook 60 adjacent January, and if reaching that milestone causes a alteration of heart, we marque erstwhile Strictly prima [Kevin] the favourite to regenerate him!"

Kevin wouldn't beryllium the archetypal erstwhile pro to articulation the sheet connected the BBC show. Prior to becoming a imperishable justice successful 2021, erstwhile helium replaced Bruno Tonioli, Anton had been a dancer connected the amusement since the debut series. Alesha Dixon besides made the modulation from the show's dancefloor to the judging panel, having been a justice for 3 bid aft winning arsenic a contestant successful 2007.

Craig - who is the lone remaining archetypal judge, having been connected the sheet since Strictly launched successful 2004 - told Best magazine past twelvemonth that he wants to "hang up" his dancing shoes and "enjoy life" erstwhile helium reaches his 60th day successful January.

Discussing retirement, helium said: "I'm moving hard portion I can, particularly arsenic I emotion what I do. It keeps maine connected my toes, darlings! I'm present the aforesaid property arsenic the late, large Len Goodman was erstwhile helium archetypal started - that's scary, isn't it?!"

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.