Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood says he was whacked with cane by dance teacher

Lily Waddell
Updated

Watch: Craig Revel Horwood looks back on his tough dance training

Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood has detailed the "tough" training he had while learning to dance.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge appeared on BBC Breakfast and weighed in on the crisis the show has faced in recent months.

The BBC dancing competition has been hit with bad publicity after Amanda Abbington accused her pro dancer Giovanni Pernice of "bullying" and "militant training". Pernice left the show and denied all allegations brought against him and said he looked forward to clearing his name. As the BBC investigated, it emerged that Graziano Di Prima had kicked 2023 celebrity partner Zara McDermott and the pro dancer was subsequently sacked.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast, the Strictly judge was asked about his own experiences while learning to dance. Revel Horwood recalled the "tough" training he said that he endured as he had a Russian teacher who used to hit him with a cane if he got the moves wrong.

Craig Revel Horwood was taught to dance by being whacked with a cane. (BBC screengrab)
Craig Revel Horwood was taught to dance by being whacked with a cane. (BBC screengrab) (BBC screengrab)

BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty asked him: "Have you ever thought about how you train? I mean, obviously you have danced, and that relationship."

"Yeah, I know how I was trained and it was tough," he said. "I remember that. I had a Russian ballet teacher who used to have a cane and she would whack us with it. Just so you're not pulling up from the thigh if you are doing a déboulés for instance to make you engage your hamstrings.

"I mean obviously that sort of teaching wouldn't be available today. You know, things have changed and come a long way in 40 years since I trained. And plus, I don't teach. I'm not an actual teacher."

Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood found out about the allegations at the same time as the papers
Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood found out about the allegations at the same time as the papers. (BBC) (BBC/Guy Levy)

BBC Breakfast Charlie Stayt said for Strictly it's like the "lid has been lifted" and he asked whether Revel Horwood was worried about how it might impact the BBC show when it returns in the autumn.

Revel Horwood said: "I'm sure. Training everyone is different, and everyone has been brought up differently as a dancer to train people, I guess what they learn they carry on into the training room."

Read more: Strictly

Chaperones are common in the theatre world and for Strictly, Revel Horwood was sure this was the best solution. With his theatrical background, he shared his own experiences. He said: "I think it's a good thing that the BBC, they are bringing people into the rehearsal rooms, they are mediators.

"We have chaperones in the theatre all the time, chaperones all the time, especially with children and younger people. We always have that. It's a good thing to have a third eye on the whole situation."

Strictly Come Dancing's judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.
Strictly Come Dancing's judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke. (BBC) (BBC/Guy Levy)

Elsewhere in the conversation, Revel Horwood said the allegations had come as news to him because the judges are kept separate from the pros and celebrities taking part.

"I was completely gobsmacked by the whole thing," Craig said. "Of course, I found out with the press, because the judges are all kept very separate from all the participants and all the pros, and the only time we ever see each other is when we're impulsively going to the studio. You don't really get an opportunity to know what happens in the rehearsal room, and that's not part of our job."

Watch BBC Breakfast on BBC One and the BBC News channel every morning from 6:00am.

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