Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood: 'If I am nice, I won't make any money'
Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood earned the title, Mr. Nasty, for his acid tongue as a judge on the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance competition.
Craig Revel Horwood "won't make any money" by being nice on Strictly Come Dancing.
The BBC Latin and Ballroom dance competition judge joked he would not have his £1.8 million mansion in Northamptonshire if he did not dish out brutally honest critiques of the celebrity contestants' performances.
Craig, 61, told the new issue of Bella magazine: "Somehow, people decided I was the nation's villain by telling the truth: that some of the celebrities were awful.
"People decided I was Mr. Naaaarsty. I find that quite funny. People misconstrue telling the truth with being nasty. If I am nice, I won't make any money, darling.
"I have got an eight-bedroom mansion with a swimming pool thanks to all your wonderful TV licences!"
The choreographer - who is the longest-serving judge on Strictly Come Dancing, having been on the panel since the show's inception in 2004 - previously admitted he toned down his "cutting" comments for fear of being cancelled.
In November 2024, Craig told Radio Times magazine: "I have changed my style of judging.
"I was really harsh 20 years ago.
"When I look back, I think, 'Ooh, that’s cutting.'
"It would now be classed as bullying, and then I’d be cancelled."
Craig - who sits on the panel alongside head judge Shirley Ballas, 65, Anton Du Beke, 59, and 45-year-old Motsi Mabuse - is now "more like a teacher than a judge".
He added: "I was very direct. I do still say what’s wrong, but you can wrap the truth in a nice way.
"I’m not there for their emotions.
"I don’t care how it affects them in that way, because they need to learn and respect my opinion."
In April 2025, Craig said he loves being able to "play the villain" on Strictly Come Dancing, despite often being booed from the live studio audience.
The dancer said on stage at the opening night of his Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing tour: "I get booed heavily, but I enjoy playing the villain."
And Craig claimed that there is "no other judge" on Strictly Come Dancing.
He said: "There is no other judge. I created it. They are either dead or have been sacked."
