Craig Revel Horwood shared his relief on ITV’s Lorraine this Friday, admitting: “a weight’s been lifted”.
The Strictly judge joined host Christine Lampard shortly after the BBC Strictly Come Dancing probe into ex-dancer Giovanni Pernice’s conduct concluded with Amanda Abbington’s accusations of verbal bullying and harassment being validated.
Amanda Abbington, the Sherlock actress, who danced with Pernice in the show’s 2023 series, withdrew early from the competition citing mistreatment off-camera. The extensive inquiry also established that Pernice, 34, stepping down from Strictly previously this year, had not been physically aggressive toward Abbington.
In conversation with Christine, Craig said there was a change in atmosphere behind the scenes following the announcement of the findings saying: “It’s like a weight has been lifted off our shoulder because it was always hanging in the air so I was just so pleased that this investigation is over because now we can move on and really celebrate our 20 years on the screen because it is a wonderful, wonderful show and it’s just awful when something like this does come along.”
He elaborated: “And of course the BBC have put loads of things in place you know like chaperones which we’ve had in the theatre for years actually. And I think it’s a really good thing. And it (the investigation) brought to light a really good thing that there should be someone in there (the rehearsal rooms) taking note. I think that’s great. So let’s move forward, let’s move on, let’s celebrate Strictly for all the good it has done in the last 20 years,” reports the Mirror.
The remarks follow a contentious moment from last weekend’s first dance-off of the 2024 series, where judges faced criticism after deciding to send Olympian Tom Dean home instead of ’80s pop icon Toyah Wilcox, who had the lowest score.
Craig Revel Horwood addressed the controversy, telling viewers: “I didn’t want him to leave either and he was in the middle of the leader board and I thought well the audience will vote him through so it’s not going to come down to him (in the dance off). And, of course, that can’t be trusted. The audience have 50 per cent of the vote and if you’re in the middle of the leader board that puts you in danger.
“And of course the reason, because I know that’s the next question on everyone’s lips, is why did I choose Toyah over Tom and the reason was musicality you know and the fact that she had amazing rhythm and I have to judge not from a personal perspective, I have to judge from a dance perspective and I have to choose only from that one minute 30 who I think was the best dancer in that moment. The pressure is really on.
“I didn’t want to see Tom go. He had what I thought was going to be a shining future on the show.”
Lorraine is on ITV1 weekdays at 9am and on ITVX