# Craig Revel Horwood
**Craig Revel Horwood** (born 1965 in Australia) is an Australian-born British dancer, choreographer, theater director, singer, author, and television personality, best known as a judge on the [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) entertainment show *Strictly Come Dancing*, on which he has served since the first series in 2004 and of which he is the longest-serving judge[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/92691/craig-revel-horwood) • [2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood) • [3](https://www.craigrevelhorwood.com/). Alongside his television work he has directed and choreographed West End and touring musicals, written four books, and, from 2024, recorded and performed as a singer.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965, Australia; based in the United Kingdom from 1989, British citizen since 2011[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/92691/craig-revel-horwood) • [4](https://lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/Craig_Revel_Horwood) |
| *Strictly Come Dancing* | Judge on all 23 series since the show began in 2004; the panel's longest-serving member[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood) • [5](https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/craig-revel-horwood-joins-the-convent-in-new-sister-act-stage-tour-7GE6ITP5HBOSPEH3WCAEWZP5KQ/) |
| First professional job | *West Side Story*, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, 1983[6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/2023/08/12/craig-revel-horwood-my-life-was-better-before-strictly-come-dancing/) • [7](https://www.craigrevelhorwoodfans.com/theatre) |
| Theatre honors | Two Laurence Olivier Award nominations for Best Choreography, for *Spend Spend Spend!* and *My One and Only*[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood) |
| Music | Debut album *Revelations, Songs Boys Don't Sing*, released October 2024 on the musical theater label Westway, followed by UK tours in 2025 and 2026[3](https://www.craigrevelhorwood.com/) • [8](https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/news/craig-revel-horwood-solo-tour/) |
| Books | Three autobiographies (2008, 2013, 2018), the debut novel *Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street* (2020), and the forthcoming *The Book of Panto* (October 2026)[4](https://lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/Craig_Revel_Horwood) • [9](https://www.craigrevelhorwoodfans.com/blog) |
| Charity role | Patron of the Royal Osteoporosis Society[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/92691/craig-revel-horwood) |
## Early life and career in theater
Horwood grew up in Australia, where his father served in the Australian navy and the family moved repeatedly before settling in Ballarat, Victoria[10](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/strictly-come-dancing-s-craig-revel-horwood-talks-love-sex-harsh-words-and-hip-operations-8940642.html). He has said that he left school intending to become a chef and came to dance indirectly, through exercise classes set to music suggested by a friend[11](https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/station/on-air/craig-revel-horwood-strictly-come-dancing-start) • [12](https://www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/blog/exclusive-interview-with-craig-revel-horwood).
His first professional dance job was in a production of *West Side Story* in Melbourne in 1983[6](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/2023/08/12/craig-revel-horwood-my-life-was-better-before-strictly-come-dancing/). He moved to London in 1989 to pursue a West End career and became a British citizen in August 2011[4](https://lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/Craig_Revel_Horwood). His performing credits include *Miss Saigon* at the [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane](https://www.edgepedia.org/theatre-royal-drury-lane), and *Crazy for You*[13](https://www.pantomime.com/news/craig-revel-horwood-to-star-as-carabosse-in-bristol-hippodrome-panto-with-bristol-panto-favourite-andy-ford-returning-as-muddles).
As a director and choreographer his credits span West End, touring, and opera productions, including *West Side Story* (Prince Edward Theatre), *Miss Saigon* (Drury Lane), *Spend Spend Spend!* (Piccadilly Theatre) and *My One and Only* (Piccadilly Theatre), both of which brought Olivier Award nominations for Best Choreography, *Follies* in concert at the [Royal Albert Hall](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-albert-hall), and *Son of a Preacher Man* on UK tour[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood). He also directed the opening ceremonies of the 2002 [Commonwealth Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/commonwealth-games)[8](https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/news/craig-revel-horwood-solo-tour/).
## Strictly Come Dancing
Horwood joined the judging panel of *Strictly Come Dancing* for its first series in 2004 and has appeared on every series since, making him the show's longest-serving judge and, as of 2025, its only original judge[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood) • [5](https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/craig-revel-horwood-joins-the-convent-in-new-sister-act-stage-tour-7GE6ITP5HBOSPEH3WCAEWZP5KQ/) • [8](https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/news/craig-revel-horwood-solo-tour/). His on-screen persona is that of the panel's harshest scorer; he has given out more scores of 1 than any other judge on the show, and his catchphrase delivery has made him one of its most recognizable figures[8](https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/news/craig-revel-horwood-solo-tour/).
Beyond the weekly show he directs the annual *Strictly Come Dancing* Live Arena Tour, created and toured the spin-off show *Strictly Confidential* in 2013, and in 2026 is scheduled to direct and judge the Arena Tour again[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood) • [13](https://www.pantomime.com/news/craig-revel-horwood-to-star-as-carabosse-in-bristol-hippodrome-panto-with-bristol-panto-favourite-andy-ford-returning-as-muddles). He has also judged international versions, including *Dancing with the Stars Australia* in 2025 and the New Zealand *Dancing With the Stars*, and earlier shows such as *Comic Relief Does Fame Academy*[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood).
## Music, writing, and other television
In 2012 Horwood won the [BBC Two](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-two) series *Maestro at the Opera*, conducting Act II of Puccini's *La Bohème* at the [Royal Opera House](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-opera-house) in the final[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood). In 2024 he recorded his debut album, *Revelations, Songs Boys Don't Sing*, with the UK musical theater label Westway, releasing it in October 2024; a companion theatrical memoir of the same name followed[3](https://www.craigrevelhorwood.com/) • [8](https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/news/craig-revel-horwood-solo-tour/). He toured the UK with a one-man show built around the album in 2025, playing more than 50 theaters, and announced a further tour from April to June 2026[3](https://www.craigrevelhorwood.com/) • [8](https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/news/craig-revel-horwood-solo-tour/).
His books comprise the autobiographies *All Balls and Glitter: My Life* (2008), *Tales from the Dance Floor* (2013), and *In Strictest Confidence* (2018), all published by Michael O'Mara Books; the debut novel *Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street* (2020); and *The Book of Panto*, scheduled for release on 8 October 2026[4](https://lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/Craig_Revel_Horwood) • [9](https://www.craigrevelhorwoodfans.com/blog).
With fellow *Strictly* judge [Anton Du Beke](https://www.edgepedia.org/anton-du-beke) he launches the podcast *Judgemental* on 9 June 2026, a weekly opinion-and-chat show distributed through Bauer Media's Rayo app and the major podcast platforms[14](https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/new-podcast-judgemental/).
## Stage acting and pantomime
Horwood appears regularly in musical theater and pantomime roles. He has toured the UK twice as Miss Hannigan in *Annie*, played the [Wicked Witch of the West](https://www.edgepedia.org/wicked-witch-of-the-west) in *The Wizard of Oz* (2024), and appeared as the Wicked Stepsister in *Cinderella* at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, at the end of 2025[2](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood). His pantomime roles for producer Crossroads Pantomimes include the Wicked Queen in *Snow White*, the Wicked Stepmother in *Cinderella* at the Bristol Hippodrome in 2022, and [Captain Hook](https://www.edgepedia.org/captain-hook) in *Peter Pan*[13](https://www.pantomime.com/news/craig-revel-horwood-to-star-as-carabosse-in-bristol-hippodrome-panto-with-bristol-panto-favourite-andy-ford-returning-as-muddles).
Two 2026 engagements were announced in advance. He will play Mother Superior, the role associated with Dame Maggie Smith in the 1992 film, in a new UK and Ireland tour of *Sister Act*, a musical he had previously directed and choreographed on tour in 2015[15](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/craig-revel-horwood-sister-act-tour-strictly-come-dancing-b3069551.html). From 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 he will star as the villain Carabosse in *Sleeping Beauty* at the Bristol Hippodrome, a role he had never previously played on stage[13](https://www.pantomime.com/news/craig-revel-horwood-to-star-as-carabosse-in-bristol-hippodrome-panto-with-bristol-panto-favourite-andy-ford-returning-as-muddles).
## References
1. [Craig Revel Horwood, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/92691/craig-revel-horwood)
2. [Craig Revel Horwood, Gavin Barker Associates](https://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/males/craig-revel-horwood)
3. [Craig Revel Horwood, Official Site](https://www.craigrevelhorwood.com/)
4. [Craig Revel Horwood, LGBT History Project](https://lgbthistoryuk.org/wiki/Craig_Revel_Horwood)
5. [Craig Revel Horwood joins the convent in new Sister Act stage tour, The Irish News](https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/craig-revel-horwood-joins-the-convent-in-new-sister-act-stage-tour-7GE6ITP5HBOSPEH3WCAEWZP5KQ/)
6. [Craig Revel Horwood: 'My life was better before Strictly Come Dancing', The Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/2023/08/12/craig-revel-horwood-my-life-was-better-before-strictly-come-dancing/)
7. [Theatre credits, Craig Revel Horwood Fansite](https://www.craigrevelhorwoodfans.com/theatre)
8. [Craig Revel Horwood's new show is strictly about the music, Newcastle Theatre Royal](https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/news/craig-revel-horwood-solo-tour/)
9. [News, Craig Revel Horwood Fansite](https://www.craigrevelhorwoodfans.com/blog)
10. [Craig Revel Horwood talks love, sex, harsh words and hip operations, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/strictly-come-dancing-s-craig-revel-horwood-talks-love-sex-harsh-words-and-hip-operations-8940642.html)
11. [Craig Revel Horwood reveals the unexpected way he got started on Strictly Come Dancing, Greatest Hits Radio](https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/station/on-air/craig-revel-horwood-strictly-come-dancing-start)
12. [Interview with Craig Revel Horwood, Wiltshire Farm Foods](https://www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/blog/exclusive-interview-with-craig-revel-horwood)
13. [Craig Revel Horwood to star as Carabosse in Bristol Hippodrome panto, Crossroads Pantomimes](https://www.pantomime.com/news/craig-revel-horwood-to-star-as-carabosse-in-bristol-hippodrome-panto-with-bristol-panto-favourite-andy-ford-returning-as-muddles)
14. [Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood launch new podcast, Judgemental, Bauer Media](https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/news/new-podcast-judgemental/)
15. [Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood to star in new Sister Act musical tour, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/craig-revel-horwood-sister-act-tour-strictly-come-dancing-b3069551.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Lifestyle and property presenters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license