Craig Revel Horwood, 59, says 'things have changed in 40 years' as he shares own training ordeal amid BBC Strictly saga
BBC Strictly: Craig Revel Horwood has reflected on the scandal engulfing the show
BBC
Craig Revel Horwood has welcomed the introduction of chaperones and welfare officers on the Strictly Come Dancing set ahead of the BBC show's return in a matter of weeks.
The dancer-turned-judge has been a mainstay on the show for two decades and witnessed his fair share of professional dancers and celebrity contestants come and go.
Alongside Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Shirley Ballas, Revel Horwood will be on hand to offer up his critique on the class of 2024 when the show returns following a year of scandal.
Professional dancer Giovanni Pernice was booted from the show following misconduct complaints from Amanda Abbington - claims he's vehemently denied - while fellow pro Graziano Di Prima was axed after "kicking" his partner Zara McDermott in rehearsals last year.
In the months since the sagas hit headlines, rumours and complaints regarding other professionals and their training methods have emerged, from Janette Manrara to judge Du Beke.
But when grilled on whether he was aware of any of the alleged misconduct behind the scenes, Revel Horwood admitted he was just as shocked as the public when the stories broke.
BBC Strictly: Craig Revel Horwood delved into his own experiences
BBC
"I was completely gobsmacked by the whole thing," Revel Horwood said on Thursday morning. "Of course, I found out by the press.
"The judges are kept very separate from all the contestants and the pros and the only time we ever see each other is in passion on our way to the studio.
"So you don't ever get an opportunity to know what happens in the rehearsal room and that's not part of our job."
The Strictly judge was then grilled by the BBC's Naga Munchetty on whether the saga has prompted him to reflect on how he was trained as a young dancer.
BBC Strictly: Craig Revel Horwood has been a judge on the show since day one
BBC
The 59-year-old opened up: "I know how I was trained - and it was tough.
"I had a Russian ballet teacher who had a cane and she would whack us with it just so you're not pulling up from the thigh... to make you engage your hamstrings.
"Obviously that sort of teaching would not be available today, things have changed. We've come a long way in the 40 years since I trained."
Munchetty's BBC co-star Charlie Stayt then asked if Revel Horwood was concerned if the public image of the show had changed detrimentally, prompting the judge to reply: "For sure, I think training, everyone is different.
"And everyone has been brought up differently as a dancer to train people.
"So what they learn they carry on into the training room, but I think the BBC has people in there (now) because they're mediators."
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'Completely gobsmacked'
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) August 1, 2024
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood spoke to #BBCBreakfast after several celebrities complained about how their dance partners treated them in rehearsal for the BBC showhttps://t.co/jMnjL7WHfU pic.twitter.com/Bqt2MNNla9
The celebs gearing up to take on the ballroom for the 2024 series are still unknown to the public.
Several stars have been rumoured to participate in the show's 20th-anniversary special, including an ex-girlfriend of the axed Pernice.
In the meantime, several of the professional dancers have been providing updates on social media from the rehearsal room as they gear up to meet their partners for the series.
While Pernice and Di Prima are no longer involved, there have been welcome returns for professional dancers Aljaz Skorjanec and Amy Dowden.
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