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Why Craig now Revels in nice guy persona
JUST when did Craig Revel-Horwood make the transition from the dance world's Mr Nasty to affable Mr Nice Guy, with not a bad word to say to anyone...?
When BBC phenomenon Strictly Come Dancing first started, Craig was the man the viewers loved to hate, the waspish judge with an acerbic line in put-downs.
Last year, though, millions of dance fans witnessed a transformation, with Craig smiling throughout a season that saw some of the hottest ballroom dancing to date.
He said: "People admire my consistency in judging and my honesty so things have swung around.
"People aren't hating me as much but rather enjoying the fact I am honest and direct and to the point. I don't start the on-screen arguments – I always have to defend myself!"
Whether he'll be able to keep the comments in check on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour is a different matter.
It sashayed into Sheffield for a sparkling opening night last night, and runs until tomorrow with a host of stars including Barnsley-born cricketer Darren Gough, series five runner-up Matt Di Angelo, and series one catastrophe Christopher Parker.
The professional dancers include South Yorkshire's own husband-and-wife team Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova, as well as Flavia Cacace, Matthew Cutler, Nicole Cutler, Camilla Dallerup, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite.
On the judging panel is head judge Len Goodman, Arlene Phillips, and Craig – although excitable Italian Bruno Tonioli is absent from the line-up.
Craig said: "I've been really looking forward to it, mainly because we don't have to make the final choice of winner.
"The audience vote basically through text messaging and, because it's live, it's different every night. That's what's great about it."
Regardless of who makes the final choice, though, the audience can enjoy some clashing of egos as the experts pass their verdicts on individual performances.
Craig said: "We're very professional and if we have an argument or we disagree about something, at the end of the day we have to agree to disagree."
The tour -– which also stars Zoe Ball, Letitia Dean, Denise Lewis, Louisa Lytton, James Martin, and Martin Offiah – is another Strictly commitment for Craig who, as well as being on the panel of the BBC original, also judges the New Zealand version of the show.
He was offered the chance to join Len and Bruno on American version Dancing With The Stars, but turned it down because "it was a five year lock-in contract and I didn't have time".
He said: "I'm a director and a choreographer, not a full-time judge. I can't imagine that ever being a career for me.
"As much as it has taken the nation by storm, for me it's a part- time job, once a year on a Saturday night – it isn't a career choice.
"I think it would be ludicrous to be nothing but a celebrity head on a television talent show. While I am in New Zealand I write books and plays and shows – it's the only time I can do it. Right now I'm writing an autobiography through dance and people will find it very interesting, I think.
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Meanwhile, it’s on with the live show.
Craig said: “It’s the first time the audience see as it really is, live, which is quite different, because the atmosphere is electric and so much better than when you are watching it at home.”
It’s a great line-up of stars too – although there is one name in the celebrity roster who has him worried.
“Christopher Parker,” he groaned. “I’m rather hoping that by the end of the tour he will have improved somewhat.
“But he has had a three-year sabbatical – and I think that’s probably a bad thing, unless he has been practising and training for three years, which I doubt!”
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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