13 September 2023 , 14:18
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Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has hinted he will quit the show in two years.
The star, 58, is keen to “hang up [his] shoes and enjoy life” when he turns 60 in January 2025, meaning next year’s series could be his last as a panellist. When asked if he is ever tempted to “just rest” rather than juggle so much in his career, the Annie musical star said: “I’ll do that when I’m 60, hang up my shoes and enjoy life. But I’m working hard while I can, especially as I love what I do. It keeps me on my toes, darlings! I’m now the same age as the late, great Len Goodman was when he first started - that’s scary, isn’t it?!”
Acid-tongue judge Craig is looking forward to the upcoming 21st series of the BBC show, insisting it “doesn’t age”, and he hasn’t held back with his opinions of this year’s cast of celebrities. Craig has been impressed with flexible 78-year-old Angela Rippon - the show’s oldest ever contestant - but predicted the series will be “tough on her body”. He said: “Angela Rippon is our oldest ever contestant. I’ve seen her work-out videos and she’s very good! It will be tough for her, though, on her body. As you get older you get all the aches and pains.”
Craig with his fellow Strictly judges (BBC/Ray Burmiston)Craig also isn’t holding out much hope for current bookmakers’ favourite Bobby Brazier, 20, who the judge thinks will have “two left feet”, and he has predicted Zara McDermott, 26 - the first ever former Love Islander to appear on the show - will also be “awkward” on the dance floor. But Craig - who will sit on the panel alongside fellow returnees Shirley Ballas, 63, Motsi Mabuse, 42, and Anton Du Beke, 57 - is expecting ex-EastEnders actor Nigel Harman, 50, and former Family Fortunes host Les Dennis, 69, to provide some comedy moments.
He added to Best magazine: “I’m looking forward to seeing Nigel Harman, he’s been in musicals, so he could bring the comedy aspect. Les Dennis is going to be hilarious, isn’t he? My prediction is that he’ll surprise people, and that EastEnders ’ Bobby Brazier will have two left feet. Ex-Love Islander Zara McDermott I feel might be a bit awkward, too. Time will tell! Actress Amanda Abbington, I think, will act her way through it by connecting with the audience and showing all the emotion.”
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Craig has threatened to leave the show before. In 2019 he said if he was made to tone down his comments to the celebs he would walk away and he expected to be replaced at some point. At the time he said: “Every year I get told to tone it down and I don’t listen. Of course I won’t be toning it down this year. I’m going to be just like I’ve been for 16 years. I’m not changing for anyone, if that’s the case I’d rather not judge it. It will never work, darling. I’ve got too much of a big mouth.”