Craig Revel Horwood would rather quit Strictly instead of ‘toning down’ his comments

Craig Revel Horwood has said he’d rather not judge Strictly than tone down his comments.

The ever critical panellist is back on Strictly Come Dancing this year for his seventeenth series.

He joins head judge Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli and new judge Motsi Mabuse on the judging line up.

Over the years Craig has become known for his sharp put downs and blunt criticisms but insists he will never change.

Admitting he had been told to “tone it down”, Craig said he’d rather not judge the show.

“Every year I get told to tone it down and I don’t listen. Of course I won’t be toning it down this year,” he said in a new interview. “I’m going to be just like I’ve been for 16 years.

“I’m not changing for anyone, if that’s the case I’d rather not judge it. It will never work darling, I’ve got too much of a big mouth.”

Speaking to The Sun newspaper at the opening of Mamma Mia: The Party, Craig described his work on Strictly to a “Saturday job”.

He explained: “It is just a Saturday job, Monday to Friday I choreograph and dance, but Strictly is a very small part of it.

“We are all dispensable, I expect they would replace me with someone else. It’s not me who has gone onto 56 countries worldwide, it’s the show and the format.”

Strictly Come Dancing will return this weekend with its second live show, and first elimination of the series.

Those celebrities on this year’s line up include England international goalkeeper David James, social media star Saffron Barker, Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley, comedian Chris Ramsey and EastEnders’ actress Emma Barton.

More confirmed Strictly celebs are Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin, TV legend Anneka Rice, gold medal winning Olympian James Cracknell and Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher – who replaces injured Jamie Laing.

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday and Sunday on BBC One.