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Craig Revel Horwood slams James Jordan for calling 'Strictly' star Rose Ayling-Ellis ‘average’

Craig Revel Horwood called out James Jordan's 'Strictly' criticism. (Getty Images)
Craig Revel Horwood called out James Jordan's Strictly criticism. (Getty Images)

He might be known as Strictly Come Dancing's Mr Nasty, but Craig Revel Horwood has passed that label to another of the show's former stars after calling out James Jordan.

The BBC One show judge stuck up for this year's bookies' favourite Rose Ayling-Ellis, who former Strictly pro Jordan had called "average".

Revel Horwood said the comment was crazy and claiming Jordan was probably just after his job.

Read more: James Jordan 'baffled' by Tilly Ramsay perfect score

He told The Mirror: "No, she's not average at all. I mean, that's just crazy. She's absolutely wonderful and I think she's incredible and I think as a dancer she's heartfelt, she finishes her lines really, really well. I completely disagree with him."

Craig Revel Horwood is a Rose Ayling-Ellis fan. (BBC)
Craig Revel Horwood is a Rose Ayling-Ellis fan. (BBC)

The pair often clashed when Jordan was a dancer on Strictly and Revel Horwood added: "I think he's obviously just trying to make headlines and get a job as a judge. Oh my god, he's always wanted that. He's desperate for my job, but he'll never get it."

In a column for Hello! after musicals week on Strictly, it had actually been Jordan's wife Ola, also a former pro dancer for the show, who called Ayling-Ellis's dance "average", but then her husband had told her "I agree".

James Jordan: 'Graeme would have won if he'd been on the show ten years ago' (Exclusive)
James Jordan and wife Ola used to be Strictly pros. (Getty Images)

Revel Horwood also said that taking musicals week off from the show while he isolated after a positive COVID test had helped him to see what Strictly was like as a viewer.

Read more: Craig Revel Horwood 'fell in love with Strictly again' during COVID isolation

Admitting that viewers were "more involved in the celebrity's story at home", he said that his job meant he didn't get to know contestants through their training videos and only watched the dances.

He said his new perspective had made him understand "why people vote for people like Dan", adding that while he was one of the weaker dancers, people were interested in his story and "you sort of invest in that".

Watch: Craig Revel Horwood spills behind the scenes Strictly goss