Craig Revel Horwood claims he’s behind Strictly Come Dancing ‘banning’ reality stars from taking part in this year’s series.
It was reported previously that ‘celebs’ from shows like The Only Way Is Essex, Geordie Shore and Made In Chelsea had been ruled out of the cast.
Judge Craig has said he’d behind the supposed ‘ban’, telling The Sun newspaper: “I created that, thank goodness.
“Well that was Gemma Collins, who wanted to make her merry way on the show and try to hold the BBC to ransom after falling down a hole.
“The ransom was that she wouldn’t sue if she went on Strictly and I went, ‘There’s no way that’s going to happen’. Yeah, I did.”
Craig recently took aim at Gemma’s hopes of appearing on Strictly, despite admitting she would make for a “fun” celebrity contestant.
“Gemma Collins would be fun on the show but it’s not very often that we have reality stars take to the ballroom,” he said.
Craig added: “We generally have people of a higher calibre than that.”
Gemma responded to Craig’s jibe and said she would prove him wrong if given the chance.
“I find his comment funny,” Gemma told The Sun newspaper. “I’m not low rent, Craig. We’ve all got to start somewhere and it’s a shame to just knock someone out of giving them a chance because they don’t think I’m high calibre enough.”
And Gemma added: “If anything, I’d probably bring a different audience to the BBC.
“It’ll be called the BGC by the time I’ve finished with rumba-ing it up.”
With reality stars seemingly ruled out, names Strictly Come Dancing bosses could sign this year include TV personality Anneka Rice, football pundit Chris Kamara and Radio DJ Maya Jama.
More potential Strictly 2018 celebs include soap stars Chelsea Halfpenny and Hayley Tamaddon plus breakfast TV presenters Piers Morgan and Dan Walker, who front ITV’s Good Morning Britain and BBC’s Breakfast respectively.
Hollyoaks star turned Oscar winner Rachel Shenton and The Chase’s Mark Labbett have also been tipped to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2018, alongside former England footballer David James.
Meanwhile, the Strictly 2018 professionals have been confirmed with three new names joining the biggest line up ever.
Strictly Come Dancing will begin on BBC One in the autumn.
