Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood says ‘that’s tough’ after being ‘misunderstood’ by fans

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

This season saw him continue his tough stance, playfully sparring with eventual winner , who humorously remarked on his elusive quest for Craig’s approval.

However, during the grand finale on Saturday, Craig was moved by Chris’s emotive performance 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 podcast that his true coaching style is much more supportive than it appears. Addressing the backlash from Strictly viewers over his critical comments, Craig explained that the brevity of the feedback time forces him to be blunt.

He shared: “I get obviously misunderstood on a programme like . I think only because I have 10 seconds to say what’s wrong with the dance.”

Adding to this, he expressed the challenges of quick critiques, 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,” reports

Craig demonstrated his softer side during the final, leaving fans in awe with a heartfelt poem he wrote for Scouse comedian Chris, the show’s first ever blind contestant.

During the live broadcast, Craig praised Chris: “In a world of darkness, you’ve learnt to dance and slay.”

He continued, “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.”

Then he delivered a touching conclusion, “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.”

Chris was visibly moved by the gesture, beckoning Craig to the dance floor for an embrace. Speaking on Kate’s podcast later, Craig opened up about his preferred nurturing approach to getting the best out of people.

He said: “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.”

Elaborating on his philosophy, he added, “If I was to love, nurture, embrace, then I could show my true self.”