Craig Revel Horwood has slammed Strictly Come Dancing’s professional dancers for complaining about their salaries.
The 53-year-old judge has hit out at the professionals on the BBC Latin and ballroom dance competition after it was claimed they are planning to form an union to fight for a pay rise, because he believes they should be grateful for the exposure the programme gives them.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column, he said: “This show puts them in the limelight. If they are doing what they normally do, which is competitive dance up in Blackpool, there would be 500 people interested. There are 12 million people interested in this show.
“They have all got Twitter accounts and they are all making money on the side doing something else. I think, ‘Isn’t that enough? Go and do Cats for 200 quid a week and then see how you feel’.”
Professional dancers on Strictly are thought to earn about £50,000 for the series, but have pointed out they work much longer hours to train their celebrity partners than the judges do, who earn thousands more.
Craig’s comments echo similar statements made by fellow judge Bruno Tonioli in 2015, when he said: “If you don’t like it, stop moaning and [bleep] off.”
Read more: Darcey Bussell says she’s ‘softened’ Strictly co-star Craig Revel Horwood
Meanwhile, the acid-tongued judge caused more drama earlier this series when he slammed host Tess Daly for asking “dull questions” on the live shows.
During a Q&A for his new book, In Strictest Confidence, Craig said: “The book is honest like me but on the telly I wear my judge’s hat. I can’t be myself. I like to joke about and do all that stuff. I might raise an eyebrow or two.
“In those ten or 20 seconds where I have to answer Tess’s quite dull questions actually … I tend to avoid them and not answer if I’m super honest.
Read more: Former Strictly star Debbie McGee criticises the show’s format
“If there is anyone here from the press I did not say that. I am BBC. I only have 20 secs to decide what to say about the dance.”
Do you agree with Craig? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.