Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood says he's 'misunderstood' before showing true colours

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has hit back at fans who have branded him 'harsh' and 'mean' over the years, saying he is 'misunderstood'

Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood has opened up about being "misunderstood" due to his reputation for being the show's toughest critic. The 59-year-old dance veteran, originally from Melbourne and now a fixture in London, is infamous for setting the bar high for celebrity contestants.

This season, he continued his streak of tough love, playfully sparring with eventual winner Chris McCausland, who humorously remarked on his elusive quest for Craig's approval. Yet, during the grand finale on Saturday, Craig was moved by Chris's heartfelt rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," awarding the comedian his first ever score of 10.

Despite his stern on-screen persona, Craig revealed on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time podcast that his actual coaching style is much more supportive.

He defended himself against the backlash from Strictly viewers over his critical comments, explaining to Kate that the brevity of the show forces him to be concise.

He said: "I get obviously misunderstood on a programme like Strictly Come Dancing. I think only because I have 10 seconds to say what's wrong with the dance.

Craig lamented the constraints, saying: "And that's tough, you know? So I have to be really quick. I've got to be to the point. You know, if I was coaching them, I could look on X Factor, you'd get coaching.

"So you've got an opportunity to make them better. But on Strictly, I'm just there, literally wearing a judge's wig and holding paddles."

Craig Revel Horwood showed his softer side on Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing final, as he delivered a heartfelt poem to the show's first-ever blind contestant, Scouse comedian Chris.

The judge's touching tribute left fans in awe as he recited: "In a world of darkness, you've learnt to dance and slay," reports Lancs Live.

"With every step, you've found your way. You've taught the world anything can be done as long as you don't stick out your bum. No shoulders raised with swing and sway, with every heel lead, you discovered the day.

"A heart that dances, pure and free is worth much more than a 10 from me. And Chris, you're a light that shines for all to see."

Overwhelmed by the gesture, Chris invited Craig to the dance floor for a hug.

Speaking on Kate's podcast, Craig revealed his philosophy on nurturing talent, stating: "I don't think you need a knife in someone's back. And I don't think you need to threaten them with cutting their money. I don't think you need to do any of that sort of stuff, you know, to get the best out of people."

He added, "If I was to love, nurture, embrace, then I could show my true self."

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