Strictly judge's first Christmas at home in years

A Strictly Come Dancing judge has shared his excitement about spending Christmas at home for the first time in years.

Craig Revel Horwood, who lives in Northamptonshire, is performing locally in pantomime as Captain Hook, in Milton Keynes Theatre's Peter Pan.

The 59-year-old has been a fixture on Strictly since the show began in 2004 and is known as the judging panel's 'pantomime villain'.

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, Revel Horwood said it was "great to go back to the boards again and do singing and dancing".

The entertainer's appearance marks the third time he has performed on stage in Milton Keynes recently, having played the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz earlier this year and Miss Hannigan in Annie in 2023.

"My little dressing room [at Milton Keynes Theatre] is like home now," he said.

"This will be the first Christmas in three years I've been at home, which will be really, really nice."

Speaking about the pantomime, he said: "I wouldn't do anything else at Christmas. I love it, it brings theatre to children and introduces them to their first live experience."

Meanwhile, the final of this year's Strictly Come Dancing takes place on Saturday and the judge said it was too close to call a winner.

"The finalists are all just extraordinary and anyone could win," he said.

"I'm so pleased as a judge that I don't have to make that decision, that it's completely down to the audience at home.

"Any of the finalists, I'd be happy to see win."

The Strictly Come Dancing final starts at 18:00 GMT on Saturday, 14 December on BBC One and iPlayer.

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