BBC Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood demands contestant is axed after rule break

Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood stuck to his principles at the Pride of Britain Awards this week when he was asked if he'd softened his approach to Pete.

He and pro partner Jowita Pryzstal came under fire last week after the pair performed a lift that he branded "illegal".

Craig is adamant that one foot should remain on the ground at all times when performing a rumba - and according to him, Pete had fallen flat with his cheeky technique. Arriving at the awards ceremony this week, he defiantly argued that the pair should "of course" be disqualified.

However, he added to The Sun: "That will never happen though, will it? I don’t think we’ve ever really disqualified anyone, but at least we can mark them down if they do do something illegal, so that’s sort of my point.”

The notoriously strict judge, who says he was "whacked with a cane" by a dance teacher in his early days, was displeased by their performance to Oasis track 'Don't Look Back In Anger'. He told Pete in no uncertain terms during judges' feedback: "As for the lifts, that is totally illegal. There were two lifts, one foot should remain on the floor at all times."

Then in a savage swipe at Jowita for allowing the move, he added: "Of course, it's up to the professional if they want to lose marks for that.

"Of course, you'll be marked down for that, and I think even a disqualification darling."

There was a stunned silence before the audience began to boo him - but Craig stuck to his guns, awarding the couple just four points.

Unrepentant, he declared: "I have an issue with [the lift], because I think you should follow the rules."

Pete looked as if he was starting to feel the pressure, but the public vote helped the pair regain their confidence.

JB Gill and Paul Merson ended up in the dance-off instead of them - and the latter ended up leaving the competition.

Meanwhile, Craig - who might be taking over from Simon Cowell as TV's notorious "Mr Nasty" in the public's eyes - looked sensational at the Pride of Britain Awards red carpet.

The Strictly fave wore a light-weight black satin suit accessorised with a metallic PVC pinstriped blazer.