Craig Revel Horwood issued cheeky dig by former BBC Strictly judge amid 'underscoring' row

The 81-year-old dancing icon was axed from Strictly in 2008 to be replaced by singer and 2007 series winner Alesha Dixon, who at the time was 31, in what Phillips considered a case of ageism and sexism.

Phillips has previously described Strictly as a sometimes “bad experience” for older women.

While attending the Women of the Year Awards earlier this month, she told The Express: "I don't particularly like the way older women are perceived [on the show]”.

Phillips has said she still resents the BBC for how her departure was handled.

The former dancer and choreographer was attending the Pride of Britain Awards, a ceremony she is very keen to support.

Phillips said at the awards show: “What it means to be a true, kind human being and over and over again you're looking at people doing things that you never actually imagine a human being can do."

She continued: “These people are chosen for their bravery, their extraordinary, unbelievable challenges as if it's nothing. Heroes, truly."

At the glitzy event, Britons who have achieved extraordinary feats of bravery or kindness across the year were honoured.

Attending musicians paid tribute to Liam Payne after the One Direction singer’s tragic death last week.

Phillips's comments come as former Strictly contestant Paul Merson, who with dance partner Karen Hauer lost his dance-off against JB Gill and Amy Dowden this weekend, also took a swipe at Revel Horwood.

The 56-year-old football pundit was disappointed after Revel Horwood deemed his Samba only worth a low score of three. Fellow judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas both awarded Merson a five, and Anton Du Beke followed up with a six.

Merson said of Revel Horwood on Monday's It Takes Two: “Because he's a professional dancer it is easy to be critical. It's so, so hard."

The former footballer also issued a challenge to the Strictly judge during Saturday's live show: "I need to meet Craig on Monday, and I'll take him to the Emirates (Stadium) and we'll have a little kick around... See if he can get any good by Tuesday."

Merson was far from the only person irked by the judge's scoring of novice dancers this series as the former Arsenal star was fiercely defended by former Sky Sports colleague, Jeff Stelling.

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The presenter took to X to lambast BBC Strictly bosses for pitting Merson against celebrities who've had previous dance training, such as Tasha Ghouri and Sarah Hadland.

On the social media site, Stelling said to Merson: "Proud of you Merse. Shame they ruin the show by including people who are trained dancers or have musical theatre backgrounds.

"Should be people who don’t have any dance training imo. But you were brilliant!" (sic)