Craig Revel Horwood set Strictly Come Dancing fans’ tongues wagging over the weekend when they claimed to have spotted signs of tension between him and new judge Motsi Mabuse.
But the show’s resident Mr Nasty has spoken out to insist it’s not her who he has beef with – it’s another of the judges.
Pouring water on rumours of a rift with Motsi during an appearance on Loose Women on Wednesday, Craig admitted he is often agitated by Bruno Tonioli’s enthusiastic critiques.
When asked by the panel if there had been a fal- out between him and Motsi, he replied: “So the reports say. I haven’t had any bad words. Obviously she is from the world of love, nurture and embrace. I am from the camp of, ‘that was terrible, fix it’.”
Turning his attention to fellow judge Bruno, it was a different story though, as he said: “I don’t like all the mucking around, getting up out of your chair, being Bruno Tonioli. Thank God I’m sat on the other side of the desk.”
He added of Motsi: “She’s fantastic. Nine years experience in Germany, she knows exactly what she’s talking about, she’s absolutely brilliant, she’s fantastic to have on the show, and I adore sitting next to her.”
Throughout Saturday’s show, he and Motsi disagreed while dishing out their critiques, with many viewers speculating about their working relationship after the new judge previously suggested that Craig is too harsh with his scores.
When Craig criticised aspects of Viscountess Emma Weymouth’s Tango, saying “It lacked attack for me…. the footwork was really messy,” Motsi told her she could see her performing the right steps, saying: “I saw it, darling.”
And after Craig critiqued James Cracknell, Motsi told the Olympian: “You’ve got the worst over, so now you can breathe.”
The pair will be back on Saturday night alongside Bruno and Shirley Ballas to judge this year’s Movie Week, as the contestants take on film-inspired routines.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV. Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.10pm on BBC One.