Craig Revel Horwood, known as Strictly Come Dancing's 'Mr Nasty,' has revealed that his first impression of fellow judge Anton Du Beke was far from flattering, admitting he thought Anton was 'stuck-up and above his station.' The confession came during the debut episode of their new podcast, Judgemental, which offers a glimpse into their dynamic on and off the dance floor.
In the podcast, Anton described the pair as 'inseparable,' but Craig was quick to recall his initial skepticism. 'Well, I got to say, my first impression of you, I thought you were really, like, stuck-up,' Craig said. 'I thought you were, like, above your station.' An amused Anton joked that he was indeed 'totally above.'
From Misjudgment to Friendship
Craig elaborated on his earlier perception, saying he believed Anton regarded himself as the 'king of ballroom.' However, after getting to know him better, Craig's opinion shifted dramatically. He credited Anton's work with former contestant Ann Widdecombe and his treatment of dance partners as the turning point. 'And then I got to know you a little bit better, obviously. And I changed my mind because I loved what you did with Ann Widdecombe. I thought that was brilliant,' Craig explained.
'And how you actually treated, you know, your dance partners, I thought was really, really good. I sort of got that completely wrong about you, actually, coz you're not stuck-up at all. In fact, you're quite the opposite,' he added. Anton jokingly responded, 'I wouldn't go that far,' but Craig maintained that his co-judge is 'grounded'—a quality he values in friendships, as he dislikes people who 'aren't grounded.'
Strictly History and Personal Updates
Craig, originally from Ballarat, Australia, has been a Strictly regular since the show's debut in 2004, while Anton transitioned from professional dancer to judge in 2021. The podcast episode also touched on Craig's recent living situation. He disclosed that he has been 'living in a caravan' while renovating his £2 million, seven-bedroom mansion in King's Cliffe, Northamptonshire, which he purchased with partner Jonathan Myring in 2021.
Eight months into the renovation, they were in the 'demolition stage,' with work expected to conclude in August. Craig described his temporary quarters as 'a one-up, two-down annex, basically the size of a caravan.' In April, he told the Mail's Richard Eden, 'I am living in a caravan at the moment. It's cheaper than storage.'
