Craig Revel Horwood

Craig Revel Horwood is an Australian-British dancer, choreographer, director and television presenter, known to millions of viewers as the strictest judge on Strictly Come Dancing. He has been working on the show since its first season (since 2004), and during that time his professional commentary has become part of British television culture. In addition to television, Craig has worked for many years in West End musical theatre as a producer and director. In this article, we will take a detailed look at his professional career and personal life.

Craig Revel Horwood's biography

Craig was born on 4 January 1965 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, a small town in the south of the country.

Craig Revel Horwood's youth

From childhood, the future TV presenter, director and choreographer grew up in a creative environment: his mother Beverley was a former tap dancer, and his maternal grandfather was a magician who performed at local festivals.

Craig's family life was not easy — his father served in the Royal Australian Navy and later developed an alcohol addiction. For this reason, the atmosphere at home was tense.

As a child, Craig loved to perform with his sister, dress up and play, but he had difficulties at school: he was bullied because he was different from his peers and loved to dance instead of playing traditional sports.

Dance became his salvation: the young man began studying jazz ballet and soon realised that it was his true passion. He later became a professional dancer and, while still very young, decided to move to Great Britain to pursue a career in theatre. In his youth, he had to earn a living by performing in bars and clubs, dressed as a transvestite.

Parents

The TV presenter's mother was called Beverley. She was a dancer and encouraged her son's creative inclinations in every way possible.

His father, Phil Horwood, often caused violent scenes at home due to his addiction to alcohol. Craig's passion for dancing gave him an escape from this reality. He has several brothers and sisters — he grew up in a large family and was the second of five children.

Craig Revel Horwood's career

Craig Revel Horwood's career began not on television, but in the theatre. He was born in Ballarat, Australia, and moved to Great Britain in the 1980s to pursue a career in musical theatre. Over time, Craig gained fame as a choreographer and director, working on major productions in the West End. He later became known to the general public thanks to television.

At the beginning of his career, Craig Revel Horwood admits that he faced criticism, including hate mail. But he says the following about this:

It doesn't matter who thinks what about me - it's important to be yourself and learn from criticism

Theatre

In theatre, Craig has established himself as a strict and demanding director. He has worked on such well-known musicals as My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon, Spend Spend Spend, West Side Story and other projects in the West End and regional theatres in Great Britain.

Over time, he transitioned from choreographer to director. His productions often receive positive reviews for their dynamism and well-thought-out plots. Craig has also served as creative director and participated in touring versions of famous musicals.

He has made a significant contribution to theatre choreography and directing. The musicals Spend Spend Spend and My One and Only earned him Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography.

Television

Craig gained nationwide fame thanks to television. In 2004, he became one of the judges on Strictly Come Dancing, one of the highest-rated shows on British television alongside Britain's Got Talent, and has remained part of the project ever since. His straightforwardness, attention to technique and trademark strictness have made him one of the most recognisable judges on British television. In addition to Strictly, Craig can be seen on a number of other entertainment programmes, where he appears as a guest expert and member of the judging panel.

Craig Revel Horwood is one of the most recognisable judges on Strictly Come Dancing. In 2012, he led the show's tour of Great Britain for two years in a row. He has been sitting at the judges' table since the show's inception in 2004 and has remained on the judging panel for many years. Over the years, Craig Revel Horwood has become the face of the judging panel thanks to his straightforwardness and memorable comments. Bruno Tonioli worked with him on the show from the very first series, but left the project in 2019 due to a busy schedule and commitments in the USA (Dancing With The Stars). Since then, he has appeared on the show from time to time, but is no longer a permanent member of the judging panel.

Here we should mention Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the hosts of Strictly Come Dancing. All of them, like Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse (one of the current judges on Strictly Come Dancing), are the faces of this project. In the past, another celebrity, Alesha Dixon, was also a member of the judging panel on the show.

Most British viewers associate the project with these celebrities. And, of course, with Karen Carney, a former England footballer who took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2025. Craig Revel Horwood commented on and evaluated her performances on the project.

The show is so popular that Madame Tussauds Blackpool has even created an area dedicated to its participants, where you can see wax figures of Craig Revel Horwood. He has become a significant figure in British show business alongside Kate Thornton, another well-known British TV presenter.

In 2021, Craig Revel Horwood took part in the British dance television show The Masked Dancer wearing a Dessert mask and was eliminated in the sixth episode.

Craig Revel Horwood's personal life

Craig Revel Horwood has always been in the spotlight, not only because of his career, but also because of his personal life. He has always been open about his personal life and sexual orientation. Craig has never been married, but he has had several serious relationships with both women and men. He has admitted that he realised he was gay as a teenager and hid it from those around him for a long time. In recent years, Horwood has become more open, sharing details of his life with fans and actively supporting issues of inclusivity and acceptance. Few people know that in 2009, he became a patron of the National Osteoporosis Society.

Partner

From 1990 to 1992, Horwood was married to Jane Horwood. After their separation, the former spouses remained friends. They sometimes have lunch together and talk about life.

Craig is currently in a long-term relationship with gardener Jonathan Myring. The couple got engaged in 2020 and met in 2018. Jonathan came to the show Strictly Come Dancing with a friend, and the fateful meeting took place behind the scenes. Although Jonathan is not a public figure, the couple sometimes share photos of themselves together on social media. Craig is 22 years older than his partner, and he notes that his relationship with this person has been one of the happiest and most stable periods of his life, and that spending time together and supporting each other makes their bond particularly strong. They love to travel and spend time together.

Craig and his partner's wedding was originally planned for 2022, but has been postponed to 2027. Horwood wants his mother, who lives in Australia, to attend the celebration. She has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently unable to travel such long distances.

Craig was previously in a relationship with Britain's Got Talent contestant Damon Scott. They broke up in 2016. Craig confessed that during that period, he and his partner could drink a bottle and a half of vodka between them. Such drinking would now lead to his hospitalisation.

Net worth

Craig Revel Horwood's net worth is approximately £5 million. His main sources of income are his work on television as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, as well as choreography and theatre work. In addition, he earns money from various advertising contracts and book publications.

Place of residence

Craig Revel Horwood lives in Hampshire. He previously lived in London but then moved to the countryside to enjoy the privacy and tranquillity. His home in Hampshire is spacious and cosy, with a large garden. Horwood enjoys spending time surrounded by nature. Craig also often mentions that he enjoys life away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, although his work on television still requires frequent travel around the country.

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