The 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to our screens next month with a brand new line-up of celebrities and the return of its professional dancers, following recent controversies
Craig Revel Horwood has dished out the inside scoop on how Strictly Come Dancing pairs might mask any animosity between them through their performances. The hit show made headlines last year following claims that Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington had a falling out, which led to her early exit in week five.
Amanda later admitted the rift was real and has since accused Giovanni of being abusive during training sessions, which has sparked an ongoing legal inquiry. Giovanni, who’s been dropped from the current season, has vehemently refuted the allegations and is confident he’ll clear his name post-investigation.
When asked about the controversy, Craig, aged 59, pointed out that the judges can only judge a couple’s rapport based on their dance routines. He explained: “They’re acting. If any tension is real and you’re doing a Paso Doble then you can use that for the dance.
“We’re talking about actors here. You don’t have to be really in love to dance a rumba, right? The only way you could tell if there is a disconnection between them is in the dance, but that is something I would bring up as a judge. They walk on in character,” reports the Express.
The longest-serving judge on the panel also mentioned that numerous dance duos “cannot bear each other” off-stage, yet their on-stage chemistry is so convincing “you’d swear they’re in love,” he added to Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine.
Craig Revel Horwood said the judges can tell if a couple are ‘disconnected’ by the way they dance (Image: BBC)
“A lot of people at work have to act like they love each other, but they don’t. So it’s impossible to tell.”
On the allegations surrounding Giovanni, Craig expressed his shock and urged people to stop speculating. He added: “It’s better that everyone just sits and lets the truth come out, in a court of law or a tribunal or somewhere, so we can find out what actually went on.”
After Giovanni was dropped from the show, Graziano Di Prima also faced criticism for alleged behaviour towards Zara McDermott. The dancer has vehemently denied claims that he spat at his ex celebrity partner, but admits kicking her and apologised to her at the time.
Next month, 15 courageous celebrities will hit the dance floor for the show’s special 20th anniversary series.
Those competing for the Glitterball trophy include; The Only Way Is Essex’s Pete Wicks, ex Arsenal legend Paul Merson, Gladiators star Montell Douglas aka Fire, DIY SOS host Nick Knowles, singer Toyah Willcox, EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri.
The latest odds from Betway suggest Love Island star Tasha Ghouri is the current favourite to win the upcoming series.
Chad Yeomans stated: “Strictly this year promises to bring all the glitz and glam as it marks its 20th anniversary as one of the nation’s favourite television shows. As a dazzling line-up of celebs, comedians, and Olympic athletes sweat it out for the coveted Glitterball Trophy, Tasha Ghouri is already a clear favourite to take home the prize following her success making it to the final of Love Island in 2022.
“Now a Celebrity MasterChef champion, could underdog Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans win people’s hearts as he takes to the dancefloor, or will Jamie Borthwick steal the spotlight and quickstep his way back into the final? It’ll all be to dance for when the show gets underway!”.
