September 14th 2024.
Craig Revel Horwood surprised viewers with a new look on tonight's launch show of Strictly Come Dancing. Fans did a double take when they first saw him, thinking he was someone else. The popular BBC series has returned for its 20th-anniversary season, with judges Craig, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke all back for another round. This year's celebrity lineup includes Jamie Borthwick, Shayne Ward, Tasha Ghouri, Pete Wicks, Chris McCausland, Sam Quek, Toyah Willcox, Wynne Evans, and more, all competing for the coveted glitterball trophy and receiving feedback from the unpredictable panel.
Strictly is known for its makeovers, with contestants being doused in fake tan, sequins, and sparkles. However, it was Craig who surprised everyone with a different appearance when he took his seat behind the judging table. At 59 years old, Craig always looks polished and sports an impressive quiff, but audiences were not used to seeing him with a beard. He debuted his new facial hair in a dapper black suit and bow tie, paired with a crisp white shirt. Even host Tess Daly couldn't help but comment, saying, "Craig, I am loving the new look! Very nice!"
Viewers took to social media to shower Craig with compliments for his new look. Some even noted how similar he looked to the impeccably groomed Rylan Clark. User SuzeHopper1 tweeted, "I think Craig actually suits the beard. I'm probably gonna keep getting him and Rylan mixed up though." Another user, JackieA954, asked, "Oh, has Rylan replaced Craig on the judging panel?" while debsuffolk wrote, "Omg Craig has gone all Rylan!" Even AmandaL08485312 agreed, saying, "Craig looks like he's cosplaying Rylan with that beard."
Ahead of the new series, Craig addressed the recent "bullying" accusations that have surrounded Strictly. Two professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, were accused of "toxic" and "cruel" behavior towards their partners. Both dancers have denied the allegations, and the BBC has launched an internal investigation. Chaperones and welfare staff have also been introduced to monitor training. Craig revealed that he, along with the other judges, had no knowledge of the situation until it was made public. He emphasized that the judges are separate from the training process and have "nothing to do" with the accusations.
Despite being known for his harsh criticism and low scores, Craig hopes the standards won't drop this year and believes that strictness is necessary for success. "Can you imagine an Olympian getting gold with his or her trainer not being strict?" he asked. He also added that while criticism may not be easy to hear, it is necessary for improvement. "Otherwise, we're living in a world where no one is criticized, and it will become watered down and vanilla, where no one's trying," he said.
Strictly Come Dancing airs every Saturday and Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. As always, the show promises to be full of glitz, glamour, and surprises. Who will take home the glitterball trophy this year? Tune in to find out!
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