Craig Revel Horwood comes under fire for making ill-judged booze comment to recovering alcoholic Paul Merson on Strictly Come Dancing

September 29, 2024

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Craig Revel Horwood has come under fire for making an ill-judged comment about booze to recovering alcoholic Paul Merson on Strictly Come Dancing.

The judge, 59, was giving feedback to the former footballer, 56, on Saturday night’s show after he danced a Salsa to Pitbull’s Fireball with partner Karen Hauer.

In the routine Paul was cooking at a BBQ with a drink in his hand before ditching the glass and beginning the choreography.

He received a poor 15 points out of 40 for the routine and Craig said it looked like his ‘feet were glued to the floor’ and that Karen just ‘danced around’ him.

The straight-talking expert added: ‘It was like a comedy dance at a wedding I’m afraid. It was really not good. Those shunts were terrible.’

Craig Revel Horwood has come under fire for making an ill-judged comment about booze to recovering alcoholic Paul Merson on Strictly Come Dancing

The judge, 59, was giving feedback to the former footballer, 56, on Saturday night’s show after he danced a Salsa to Pitbull’s Fireball with partner Karen Hauer

Craig then said of the props at the start: ‘Obviously the drinks at the BBQ gave you the confidence to do that.’

Paul then looked at his feet and mumbled: ‘I don’t drink’, in an awkward moment on the live show.

Viewers were quick to notice the interaction as they penned on X: ‘#Strictly please can you inform Craig Revel Horwood that Paul Merson is a recovering alcoholic. It was an appalling comment to him. He needs to apologise.’,

‘Will Craig be made to apologise for comments to Paul Merson totally out of order!.’,

‘@bbcstrictly Howay man Craig, mentioning drink to an ex alcoholic is a bit tactless if am honest! Well done Paul Merson @PaulMerse by the way! Keep on entertaining!’,

‘Really poor comments and choice of words from Craig tonight to Paul Merson fancy saying the drink obviously gave you some confidence to a recovering alcoholic #pleasedobetter #watchyourwords.’,

‘@bbcstrictly Craig’ comments to Paul Merson about drinks at the BBQ? Little bit crass.’

Before Strictly Paul said of being clean now: ‘Being a recovering alcoholic and everything, I just to give people back people watching this show at home that have got addictions that you can go and do something because addiction takes you away from everything.

Craig said of the drink props at the start: ‘Obviously the drinks at the BBQ gave you the confidence to do that’. Paul then looked at his feet and mumbled: ‘I don’t drink’

Viewers were quick to notice the interaction as they penned on X: ‘#Strictly please can you inform Craig Revel Horwood that Paul Merson is a recovering alcoholic’

Before Strictly, Paul said of being clean now: ‘Being a recovering alcoholic I just to give people back people watching that have got addictions that you can go and do something because addiction takes you away from everything’

He received a poor 15 points out of 40 for the routine and Craig said it looked like his ‘feet were glued to the floor’ and that Karen just ‘danced around’ him

‘That’s all it ever does. It wants you on your own.

‘Now, I’m going in front of millions of people doing something that I’m not very good at. That’s my thing. Because I used to think I can’t do things like that now I’ve got the opportunity because I’m clean.’

In 2019 Paul said: ‘Addiction is the most lonely of places and I’ve had three of the worst types over three decades. Never be afraid to talk — you’re never alone.’

It came after Chris McCausland left both the audience and viewers in stitches as he made a savage dig at Craig on Saturday night’s show.

The blind comedian, 47, has so far gone down a storm with viewers thanks to his wicked humour and hilarious one-liners – and Chris was at it again on Saturday as he took aim at Craig.

During the show, the acid-tongued judge dished out some fairly harsh criticism to the contestants while offering up some rather low scores.

And when host Claudia Winkleman turned to Chris to chat about his upcoming foxtrot, the comic took the opportunity to stand in solidarity with his fellow dancers and take a swipe at Craig’s put-downs.

Responding to Claudia’s enquiries about his dance, Chris responded: ‘First of all, by the sound of how things are going, I think Craig is blinder than I am!’

His hilarious quip left his fellow dancers and Claudia howling with laughter, with the tickled host needing a moment to compose herself as she said: ‘Give me a minute.’

Chris’ quip also earned him a round of applause from the audience as they approved of his hilarious joke at Craig’s expense.

And viewers at home were in agreement, with many rushing to X to share their comment, with one remarking he was the ‘best thing to happen to Strictly’.

They penned: ‘Chris McCausland is a legend please keep him in what he said about Craig been as blind as him was hilarious’

‘By the sounds of the way things are going, I think Craig is blinder than I am’ GIVE CHRIS THE GLITTERBALL IMMEDIATELY’

‘Chris is so savage I love him’; ‘Chris McCausland’s comment that Craig must be as blind as him was a laugh out loud moment!’

‘Craig’s blinder than I am’ WHAT A LINE from Chris’; ‘Chris just absolutely amazes me. So good and so hilarious!’

‘Think Craig’s blinder than I am’ Chris McCausland is the best thing to happen to #Strictly.’

Later in the show, Chris and his dance partner Dianne Buswell took to the dancefloor to perform a foxtrot to Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by The Tams.

Another viewer said: ‘@bbcstrictly Howay man Craig, mentioning drink to an ex alcoholic is a bit tactless if am honest! Well done Paul Merson @PaulMerse by the way!’

The impressive dance went down a storm with the audience and they gave the comic a standing ovation for his efforts.

Following the earlier banter, Craig gave the TV star some mixed feedback for his performance, commenting: ‘your fingers bothered me, splayed like bananas on her back, smile but I love your spirit and musicality is beyond.’

An enthusiastic Motsi shared: ‘You made it look easy, smooth and controlled but maintain your frame’, while Shirley heaped praise on both Chris and his dance partner.

She said: ‘Fantastic heel pull, Dianne’s teaching is off the scale, beautiful footwork, you’re an example to the rest.’

And after Anton praised his ‘wonderful feet and timing’, the judges then scored the pair a decent 29 points out of 40.