Craig Revel Horwood has hit out at Ola Jordan, after she claimed the Strictly Come Dancing results are “fixed”.
The acerbic judge, who has sat on the panel of the BBC One programme since its debut in 2004, even said he would quit if the allegations made by the professional dancer were true.
“To be honest, I am so bored of the Jordans now. Ola claimed in an interview that the show is fixed and called me pathetic,” he told Woman. “Firstly, Strictly is in no way fixed.
“We’re all individuals on the judging panel, and there’s no way I could be told what to say. I would leave the programme if that were the case.”
Strictly Come Dancing judges Len Goodman, Darcey Bussell, Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli (Ray Burmiston/BBC)
He even took a pop at Ola, who won Strictly with TV presenter Chris Hollins in 2009.
“Funny how she didn’t say that when she won with Chris Hollins in 2009,” he continued, adding: “Please – if you’re going to bite the hand that feeds you, then at least do it in a more intelligent way.”
Ola, who announced she is quitting Strictly in November after a 10-year run on the show, told The Sun that the judges manipulate the leader board to keep acts in the contest.
“Some of the marking is way off,” she said. “People are over-marked and under-marked.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGyzXeu0Ymg&feature=oembed
The pro dancer was partnered with former athlete Iwan Thomas in this year’s series, and they were voted out in the first week of eliminations.
Craig also denied Ola’s claims that the remaining contestants, including Countryfile presenter Anita Rani, had dance training.
Anita Rani on Strictly Come Dancing (Guy Levy/BBC)
He said: “Anita is doing so well, considering she has no dancing experience. Gleb (Savchenko) doesn’t stand any nonsense, and you can see that in how seriously she’s taking it.”
