Craig Revel Horwood faces calls to be ‘replaced’ as former BBC Strictly pro Ola Jordan claims ‘too nicey nicey’
Strictly Come Dancing’s latest series came to an end over the weekend, with a finale spectacular marking the end of the 20th-year show.
One fixture who has been a part of the beloved annual competition since it first aired on the BBC back in 2004 is judge Craig Revel Horwood – and despite his ongoing popularity, one former professional dancer has argued he should be replaced by a new judge.
Ola Jordan, who starred on the show from 2006 to 2015, has built a reputation in recent years for speaking her mind on various opinions along with husband and fellow dancer James Jordan.
Days after Saturday’s dazzling Strictly finale, Jordan, 42, has called for judging panel “villain” Revel Horwood, 59, to be replaced as she argued the choreographer has “lost his sparkle”.
Millions tuned into Saturday’s emotional wrap-up of the series, which saw comedian Chris McCausland, the show’s first-ever blind contestant, living the Glitterball Trophy alongside Australian professional Dianne Buswell.
One of the memorable moments from the show saw Revel Horwood breaking his tough exterior to read a poem he’d penned in tribute to McCausland ahead of his victory.
Fans were quick to point out how moving the moment was. However, Polish professional Jordan has slammed Revel Horwood’s new “positive” nature.
“I feel like Craig’s lost his sparkle. People loved Craig for what he was before,” she argued.
“He would say it as it is, saying he wasn’t good, that was rubbish, but it’s almost like he’s got to say a positive now.”
Speaking to Mecca Bingo, she added: “He’s obviously been told they’ve got to be positive and that they don’t want any negativity in the show and that comes from producers, but they need to look at what the public wants really. It’s too nicey nicey.”
“What needs changing to refresh the show? Put a different judge on there, just spice it up a bit because we know what they all say,” she added, The Sun reports.
She went on to suggest “you could even have a different guest judge every week.”
Despite her doubts about Revel Horwood, Jordan was full of praise Shirley Ballas.
“Shirley is one of the most known people in our business,” she commented.
“She knows what she’s talking about. She’s got the knowledge more than anyone on the panel.
“She’s an amazing teacher. She’s an amazing judge. But I think of the role when you look at the panel, they need to be a bit more truthful.”
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Revel Horwood himself has acknowledged the change in his approach, alluding to the fact he’d probably be “cancelled” if he maintained the harshness he exhibited in the show’s early days.
One star who also noticed the change was former Strictly favourite Vincent Simone who told GB News through Jackpotjoy: “To be honest, now that I think about it, it’s one thing that I spotted for years.
“Every time Craig judges a couple, it starts with, ‘Lumpy, blah, blah, stumpy… But I loved it!’ And then the score doesn’t match the bad comments.
“It’s one thing that he’s always been renowned for, but I love it. I love the fact that he does say the truth, sometimes over exaggerating on some of the comments negatively.”