Strictly fans shocked by Craig Revel Horwood on first show

Craig Revel Horwood
-Credit: (Image: BBC)


Strictly Come Dancing fans are commenting about Craig Revel Horwood’s quirky scoring of the celebrity dancers during the first live episode of the new series. The judge, who has been with Strictly since the show launched in 2004 and is known for his often sharp opinions, started off the night by awarding DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles just three points, despite many viewers thinking the 62 year old TV star was better than they had expected. However, it was the starkly different scores that Craig gave eighties pop star Toyah Wilcox and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri that surprised most fans.

While Tasha, who danced to Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso with partner Aljaz Skorjanec scored an eight from Craig, he was very harsh with Toyah and her partner Neil Jones, who danced to Madonna’s Ray of Light and scored just two. One fan wrote: “Craig is being awful marking these Strictly newbies so low.” Another commented, “Actually laughed at Craig Revel Horwood’s score for Toyah, we’re starting panto season early here darlings!”

Toyah
Craig only scored Toyah two points -Credit:PA

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A third commented: “Judging a bit harsh for Nick Knowles and Toyah." People also questioned Craig’s unusual high scores for week one, with one commenter saying “Craig giving Tasha an 8???!!!” Another said: "Craig giving an 8 on week one??? Is he feeling ok???"

At the Strictly press launch, Tasha addressed reports of previous dance experience and explained that ballroom dancing was completely different to the training she had received in the past.

Tasha Ghouri on Strictly Come Dancing
Tasha and Aljaz were scored an eight by Craig -Credit:Instagram / tashaghouri

“Commercial dance is very different to ballroom dance and Latin, I’m still having to strip down and relearn, even walking in cha cha step is weird to me – you have to turn out your feet and lead with your hips, so it’s based on muscle memory. Even letting a man take the lead is a lot.”

Tasha isn’t the only celebrity this year who has some dance experience. JB Gill, who rose to fame in boy band JLS, has dance experience from the band’s performances in videos and on stage, and also won the Strictly Christmas special show in 2012, performing the jive to Rockin’ Robin with professional partner Ola Jordan. EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick also competed in a Strictly Christmas special in 2023, scoring a maximum 40 points for his quickstep with partner Nancy Xu.