Strictly fans turn the tables on Craig Revel Horwood as Olympian is eliminated

He wouldn't make it past Week 3 with those moves, apparently.

A bewigged Strictly judge Craig during the Results Show. (BBC screenshot)
A bewigged Strictly judge Craig during the Results Show. (BBC screenshot)

Strictly Come Dancing has aired its first Results Show of 2024.

Amidst the nerve-twitching dance-off between Tom Dean, Nadiya Bychkova, Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones, judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse combined with the stable of professionals for a dramatic Prince-soundtracked routine, before Ezra Collective and Yazmin Lacey belted out their tune God Gave Me Feet for Dancing in the ballroom.

Fitted with a curly blonde wig, eyeliner and lipstick as some sort of Elizabethan fairy, the notoriously harsh Horwood's antics didn't exactly blow people away over on social media as fans took pleasure in turning the tables on him with their comments.

He was clearly enjoying getting into character. (BBC screenshot)
He was clearly enjoying getting into character. (BBC screenshot)

Posting on the social channel X, viewers tuning into BBC One piled in on Horwood's performative skills.

"Well, Craig did a lot of sitting in that routine - not a lot of dancing. I'll give him 2," read one response, before another user jabbed him with: "If Craig was a contestant on SCD he wouldn't make it past week 3".

"A proper group dance (of sorts). About time too. Not sure how #Craig has the audacity to criticise anyone else's dancing though!!" pointed out a third fan.

Another person claimed they "can never take Craig dancing seriously" while someone else compared his moves to "watching your nana try and do the Agadoo after a couple of sherries".

Nadiya Bychkova and Tom Dean. (BBC screenshot)
Nadiya Bychkova and Tom Dean. (BBC screenshot)

Having produced another Cha Cha to Earth, Wind & Fire's Boogie Wonderland, Olympic swimmer Tom and his pro partner Nadiya were ultimately sent packing by Shirley, who cast the deciding vote on Sunday evening (29 September) after Craig and Motsi both opted to save punk legend Toyah and Neil.

"I've had the best time the last few weeks and getting to work with Nadiya has been incredible," Tom told Strictly co-host Tess Daly in the aftermath. "I wish I could have gone further and done more dances. I've had the most fun and I wish we could keep going longer and longer. We'll still go out for loads of brunches I'm sure."

Despite the bitter disappointment of being eliminated first, Ukrainian choreographer Nadiya went on to wax lyrical about Tom. "To get to know him, he's not just a three-time Olympic champion he's a true gentleman and he taught me how to work really hard and how to put everything in," she said. "And you know what? On this programme, sometimes to win, you don’t need to win, and that’s how I feel this year.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday (5 October) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.