Former 'Strictly' professional challenges Craig Revel Horwood to train celebrity contestant amid quit claims

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20:  Kristina Rihanoff attends the Together For Short Livessss 'Nutcracker Ball' at One Marylebone on November 20, 2018 in London, England. Money raised during the event hosted by patron Simon Cowell and partner Disney UK will go towards creating moments that matter for seriously ill children. The Nutcracker Ball is to be held in aid of families facing the heartbreak of knowing their child will die young. It will raise vital funds to support families caring for seriously ill children, and to receive the care and support they need to make the most of every moment together.  (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Together For Short Livessss)
Kristina Rihanoff has challenged Craig Revel Horwood to train a celebrity (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Together For Short Livessss)

Kristina Rihanoff has challenged Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood to train a celebrity.

Amid Horwood’s declaration that he would quit if he was asked to tone down his comments, Rihanoff suggested that the outspoken judge should put himself in the position of the pro dancers in a bid to understand how much work goes in to train the celebrities.

During a debate with Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain, Rihanoff said: “There's a nicer way to say things, you're dealing with real people with real feelings.

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“People are asked to do the show. They're also paid a lot of money and they come out of their comfort zone to go there and actually work really hard.

"I want to see Craig Revel Horwood train one celebrity for one day. Nine hours."

Craig Revel Horwood arriving at the red carpet launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2019, held at BBC TV Centre in London, UK. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Craig Revel Horwood arriving at the red carpet launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2019, held at BBC TV Centre in London, UK. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)

Good Morning Britain anchor and former Strictly contestant Charlotte Hawkins admitted that she thought the comments Horwood made about her were unfair at times.

“I knew what I was getting myself in for. I know you're going to have comments thrown at you you're going to be criticised or whatever else.”

Craig Revel Horwood has revealed he will quit the show if he's asked to tone down his comments (Photo: BBC)
Craig Revel Horwood has revealed he will quit the show if he's asked to tone down his comments (Photo: BBC)

“He [Craig] would have called me a dance disaster and all the rest of it and that's fine. You know they're there in a pantomime villain capacity,” she continued to comment.

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“I was frustrated because I felt I wasn't dealt with fairly, you do feel like you're being picked on and you feel it's not judged fairly.”

However, Dancing With The Stars host Gary Edwards defended Horwood’s controversial judging techniques by saying: “I think if you go on there knowing Craig is a judge you have to be prepared.

“If you're not willing to put up with it, don't go on the show.”