Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood has accused Len Goodman of “living in the dark ages”, after the former Head Judge suggested the show had become “too sexy” in recent years.
In an interview with The Mirror earlier this month, Len admitted he thinks the show has gone through some big changes since he stepped down from the panel, and suggested they weren’t all for the better.
Calling for Strictly to go “back to its roots”, Len said: “It’s not only sex, I used to hate it even if a swing was involved and they were sitting on a swing. And props, going down on one knee, giving them a rose. Get on with it!”
However, Craig – who has never been one to bite his tongue – has hit back in his latest column for Best magazine.
“Former Head Judge Len Goodman has been lamenting the ‘old-school’ Strictly, saying there are too many props now, and too much sexiness,” Craig wrote. “I love it!
“Strictly has evolved – there are such beautiful stories within each dance. We’re not doing a ballroom and Latin competition, it’s an entertainment show.”
He added: “Len’s living in the Dark Ages. He’s forgotten his youth!”
Len recently weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding Strictly featuring same-sex couples in future series, which the BBC recently said they’d be “open” to including from next year.
Recalling judging same-sex competitions he’d judged in the past, Len said: “They were of a very high standard, terrific dancing actually. Somehow whilst you were judging it, you didn’t even notice.
“It wasn’t that one of the men was dressed in a frock or anything, it was done in a very tasteful way. So if it’s done in that way I think it would be okay. But that doesn’t change the fact I’m an old traditionalist.”
Five couples remain in the current series of Strictly, which will feature its annual Musicals Week extravaganza this weekend, and after Bruno Tonioli serenaded viewers in last week’s live show, it’s been revealed that Craig will be leading the professionals, celebrities and judges in a Hello Dolly!-inspired musical number on Saturday night.
MORE STRICTLY...
Len Goodman’s 'Rude' Response To Contestant’s High-Five On US Strictly Shocks Viewers
AJ Pritchard Accuses Strictly Come Dancing Judges Of 'Underscoring' His Samba
Anton Du Beke Apologises After Racist Comment
While he later insisted that he'd only used the term "p**i" as backstage "banter" (*eyes roll wildly in head*), he did unreservedly apologise in a statement.
Brucie Rushes To Anton's Defence
He said at the time: "We used to have a sense of humour about this. You go back 25, 30, 40 years and there has always been a bit of humour about the whole thing."
Brucie was later forced to backtrack in a more official capacity, with a statement saying: "To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable."
Oh dear.
Arlene Phillips Gets The Chop
The decision faced a huge backlash at the time, with many accusing the BBC of age discrimination, particularly when Harriet Harman even brought up the issue in the House of Commons.
Calls For Same-Sex Couples
In 2018, much was made of a group performance from the show's professionals in which portions saw them teaming up in same-sex pairs. While some praised this as a step in the right direction, others branded it a "cop-out".
John Sergeant Dances Off The Show (Not Dragging Kristina Behind Him, Though)
The judges knew it, he knew it and the public knew it - yet he stayed in the contest week after week.
When more proficient dancers wound up being sent home over John each week, he eventually decided to step down from the contest, as die-hard Strictly fans grew angrier.
He said: "The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me that would be a joke too far."
Anthony Ogogo And Oti Mabuse Make Race Observation
While Anthony said he was surprised the BBC chose not to "mix up" the minority contestants and professionals, Oti said: "It's no wonder that I got partnered with Anthony and that we got voted off second week, obviously people at the BBC don't want to see a black person win."
She later retracted her statement, and was welcomed back on the show in 2016, where she was partnered with Danny Mac.
Ola Jordan Lays Into The Judges
Bruno Tonioli had some harsh words for her in response, fuming: "Those are the terms of the negotiations. If you don’t like it, stop moaning and fuck off."
James Jordan Asks: 'Why Sack Me?'
He departed from the show in 2014, accusing bosses of firing him. When a tweet from the show said he'd be missed, he fired back simply: "So why sack me?"
The Strictly 'Curse'
From the 2018 final, for example, two of the celebrities are now dating their professional partners, while Ashley Roberts is also coupled up with Giovanni Pernice.
Seann Walsh And Katya Jones Are Caught Kissing
To make matters worse, Seann's then-girlfriend released a statement accusing him of gaslighting her, revealing the kiss had taken place on her birthday. Unsurprisingly, she dumped him there and then.
Katya, meanwhile, was quick to insist that the indiscretion was not representative of her relationship with husband Neil Jones. Since then they've also announced their split, but dismissed claims that the Strictly scandal was anything to do with the break-up.
Craig Revel Horwood On Kristina Rihanoff
It was around this time that she was partnered with Ben Cohen, who would later become the father of her child.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood later joked that Kristina was 'gutted' to be partnered with Daniel O'Donnell in 2015, adding: 'It was rather obvious she wasn’t going to get a hot, young celeb after everything that’s happened.
"It’s natural to fall in love with your dance partner when you’re spending so much time together and Kristina managed it a few times!"
Ouch.
Jamelia Accuses The Show Of Favouring Peter Andre
On Loose Women that week, she said: "It wasn’t until they re-recorded Pete’s standing ovation, I’d say that was the moment we knew we were going home."
Like Maleficent at a christening, James Jordan also offered his take, suggesting Peter was being given an unfair advantage by opening or closing the show each week.
Ola And Kristina's Sexy Calendars
The accompanying image is one of the photos from Ola's calendar the year after. It's safe to say she was not here for that critique.
'Doping' Accusations
A 'Strictly' spokesperson later countered: "In the absence of any evidence or further information being presented to us, we will not be commenting."
Craig Revel Horwood Is Forced To Apologise Before The Series Has Even Begu
He made headlines when, during a taping of the pre-recorded series launch, he made a joke about Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton's romance that producers deemed so inappropriate he had to issue an apology.
"I’m deeply sorry for the offence caused to Kevin and Stacey and everyone who works on the show," he said.
"I recognise that what I said was hurtful, cruel and incredibly disrespectful. It was a huge error of judgment that I very much regret.”
Danny John-Jules Accuses Show Of 'Creating Stories' About Him
Both Danny and Amy denied this was the case, with the actor accusing the journalists behind the claims of being racist.
After leaving the show, he suggested there was a "vendetta" against him, later accusing the BBC of playing a part by "creating stories about him" for the press.
The BBC was quick to dismiss this suggestion, insisting they were "categorically untrue".
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.