Craig Revel Horwood reveals what ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ will look like on its return: ‘I’m itching to get back'

Just like every other Strictly Come Dancing fan, Craig Revel Horwood cannot wait for the Saturday night show to return.

Speaking to Kate Thornton on White Wine Question Time, the Australian star said he’s excited to get back behind the judging desk.

“I'm itching to get back. As long as there's four metres between me and the other judges, I'll be happy!” he joked.

Read more: Craig Revel Horwood reveals new rules won’t fire up ‘Strictly’ curse

While the new set up will be very different, it’s not something that Revel Horwood is unfamiliar with. Back in March he was filming the Australia version – Dancing With The Stars – as the pandemic first hit. As well as reducing the size of the team on the show, the most noticeable element for Craig was the lack of a studio audience.

“When you finish the show, you feel like you’ve just finished the rehearsal,” the Strictly judge explained to Thornton.

“Especially for my character who gets booed a lot, I had to say ‘I can hear the booing from people’s homes right now’”

The former West End star said that the constraints actually made for a really fantastic show, especially when they were pushed into a “creative corner” when one celebrity’s father fell ill with COVID-19.

“One of the dads of a celebrity actually had COVID so they had to immediately go into isolation at a hotel,” he told Thornton.

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“To perform that evening they had to dance on the hotel rooftop live. They were dancing on top of BBQs, going around poles and all sorts of things.”

He continued: “But it was wonderful to see because it was summer in Australia at the time – the chiffon was wafting in the breeze as the sun was setting! I mean, it was just beautiful.”

When it comes to our very own Strictly Come Dancing, Revel Horwood said that as well as pre-recording all the professional group dances, the celebrities will need to stay in a bubble with their dancer – something he believes will make for better dancing performances.

“There will be two bubbles for the celebrity and the professional dancer,” he said.

“They’ll be able to perform together and then go back to their families, but they’re not allowed to visit anyone else throughout that whole period.”

Read more: 'Strictly's' Bruno Tonioli happy for Cheryl to replace him if he can't do show

“It’s going to be tough – but do remember they do have a lot of work to do and a lot to learn. It’ll be very focussed on their dancing, which I think will bring out better results to be honest.”

When asked by Thornton if he also had to isolate, Revel Horwood said that as a judge he’s pretty well isolated from the other stars anyway.

He laughed, saying: “As you know, the judges are kept in a separate part of the building anyway, so we don’t bump into celebrities. I do generally get abuse, so it’s safer for me to be isolated!”

The show, which The Sun revealed will have a shorter run than usual and start in October, is likely to return with only three judges, as Bruno Tonioli is currently in America and unable to return to the UK just yet.

“He’s stuck in America so it really does depend on the adorable Mr Trump to decide whether he can come back and return again,” explained Revel Horwood.

“If he can travel, then he will as he wouldn’t miss it for the world but if he can’t then he’ll come over in December for the semi-final and final.”

Hear Craig Revel Horwood chat more about Strictly, why he’s glad he got plastic surgery and what his biggest inspiration has been on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time. Listen now on iTunes and Spotify.