BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood's new look distracts fans as he debuts 20-year first

Craig Revel Horwood
-Credit: (Image: BBC)


Craig Revel Horwood dazzled viewers with a striking change as he made his return to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom for the show's 2024 series.

The choreographer, aged 59, graced television screens once again on Saturday (September 14) night, joining fellow judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke to greet the new celebrity lineup during the much-anticipated 20th-anniversary launch show.

But it was Craig's new beard that captured the audience's attention, sparking an immediate buzz on social media about his revamped look. On X, previously known as Twitter, one enthusiast remarked: "Craig with a new look this year. I'm liking the beard on him."

Another chimed in: "Loving Craig with a beard! He reminds me of a top Hollywood star. Very professional!" Echoing the sentiments, a third individual commented: "Loving Craig's new look.."

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Before the pre-recorded episode hit the small screen, Craig teased his transformation online. The BBC took to Instagram to post a clip showcasing Craig alongside his peers Anton, Shirley, and Motsi before the anticipated debut, reports the Mirror.

This fresh series ignites following a period marked by various controversies involving the beloved dance competition. A significant portion of the criticism was directed at two previous professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who have both since parted ways with Strictly.

Giovanni, who in the 2023 series danced with actress Amanda Abbington, has refuted any claims of aggressive or menacing conduct during their practice sessions.

In a related development, Graziano admitted to kicking his TV star partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals last year. The BBC has pledged to address any complaints with "care, fairness and sensitivity", but many questions about the incident remain unanswered.

BBC Director General Tim Davie has since apologised to Strictly contestants who had negative experiences on the show. At the launch of the BBC's annual report, he expressed disappointment that several celebrity contestants had reported abusive behaviour from their professional partners during rehearsals.

Davie confirmed that the show would continue, but warned professional dancers that they must not cross the line from competitiveness to "unacceptable" behaviour. He stated, "There will be a degree of competitiveness and will to do well, but there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind."