Craig Revel Horwood has come under fire for making a boozy comment to get back at drunken Paul Merson on Strictly Come Dancing

Contents

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk Paul Merson and Karen Hauer Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez Wynne Evans and Katya Jones Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu

Craig Revel Horwood has come under fire for making rude comments about booze to get back at Paul Merson’s alcoholism on Strictly Come Dancing.

Judge, 59, gave feedback to the former footballer, 56, on Saturday night’s show after he danced the Salsa to Pitbull’s Fireball with partner Karen Hauer.

In the routine Paul cooks on the BBQ with a drink in hand before ditching the glass and starting the choreography.

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

The straight-talking expert added: ‘It’s like a comedy dance at a wedding, I’m afraid. It’s really not good. Shunts are horrible.’

Craig Revel Horwood has been criticized for making rude comments about booze to get Paul Merson’s alcohol back on Strictly Come Dancing

Judge, 59, gave feedback to the former footballer, 56, on Saturday night’s show after he danced 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 me the confidence to do that.’

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

Viewers were quick to take note of the interaction as they wrote on X: ‘#Strictly, you can tell Craig Revel Horwood that Paul Merson has recovered from alcoholism. It was a horrible comment for him. He should apologize.’,

‘Would Craig apologize for the comments to Paul Merson totally out of order!.’,

‘@bbcstrictly Howay man Craig, mentioning a drink to an ex-alcoholic is a bit tactless if I’m honest! Great Paul Merson @PaulMerse by the way! Stay entertained!’,

‘Poor comments and choice of words from Craig tonight to Paul Merson who said his drink clearly gave recovering alcoholics confidence #pleasedobetter #watchyourwords.’,

‘@bbcstrictly Craig’ comments to Paul Merson about drinks at a BBQ? Quite a bit.’

Before Strictly Paul said about being clean now: ‘Being a recovering alcoholic and all, I just want to give people back people watching this show at home who are addicted who 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 give you the confidence to do that’. Then Paul looked at his feet and said: ‘I do not drink’

Viewers were quick to recognize the interaction as they wrote on X: ‘#Strictly, you can tell Craig Revel Horwood that Paul Merson has recovered from alcoholism’

Ahead of Strictly, Paul said about being clean now: ‘Being a recovering alcoholic, I’m just giving viewers who are addicted so you can do something because addiction takes you away from everything.

He got 15 points out of 40 for the routine and Craig said his ‘feet were glued to the floor’ and Karen just ‘danced around’ him.

‘That’s all he does. It wants you alone.

‘Now, I’m going to be in front of millions of people doing something I’m not good at. That’s my business. Because I used to think I couldn’t do something like that now I get the chance because I’m clean.’

In 2019 Paul said: ‘Addiction is the loneliest place and I’ve been through three of the worst sex in thirty years. Don’t be afraid to speak up – you won’t be alone.’

It comes after Chris McCausland left viewers and viewers in stitches when he made a wild dig at Craig on Saturday night’s show.

The blind comedian, 47, has gone down a storm with viewers thanks to his bad humor and hilarious one-liners – and Chris was there again when he took aim at Craig.

During the show, the acid-tongued judges gave quite harsh criticism to the contestants while awarding them a rather low score.

And when host Claudia Winkleman turned on Chris to talk about his upcoming foxtrot, the comic took the opportunity to show solidarity with his fellow dancers and took a swipe at Craig’s put-down.

In response to Claudia’s question about the dance, Chris replied: ‘First of all, with the sound of what’s going on, I think Craig is blinder than I am!’

hilarious quip which left a fellow dancer 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 when they approved the hilarious joke at Craig’s expense.

And viewers ahead agreed, with many rushing to X to share their comments, with one remarking he was ‘the best thing to happen to Strictly’.

He wrote: ‘Chris McCausland is a legend, I hope he sticks to what he said about Craig being blind as he is funny’

‘By the sounds of things, I think Craig is blinder than I am.

‘Chris is so fierce, I love him’; ‘Chris McCausland’s comment that Craig must be as blind as a man is laughing out loud at the moment!’

‘Craig’s blind from me’ WHAT A LINE from Chris’; ‘Chris really surprised me. So beautiful and so cute!’

‘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 the foxtrot Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy by The Tams.

Another viewer said: ‘@bbcstrictly Howay man Craig, mentioning a drink to an ex alcoholic is a bit rude to be honest! Well 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 previous loud, Craig gave the TV star some mixed feedback for his performance, commenting: ‘Your fingers bother me, splayed like bananas on her back, smile but I’m passionate and musicality beyond.’

Their enthusiastic moves show: ‘You make it look easy, smooth and controlled but keep your frame’, while Shirley heaps praise on Chris and his dance partner.

He said: ‘Great heel pull, Dianne’s teaching is off the scale, great footwork, you are an example to others.’

And after Anton praised their ‘good feet and timing’, the judges scored the pair 29 points out of 40.