Craig Revel Horwood has been flooded with praise from his fellow Strictly Come Dancing judges after celebrating a milestone. The longest-serving judge on the BBC dance contest was labelled “warm and witty” by his colleagues as they shared tributes to him on his 60th birthday.
The Australian-born choreographer, who has been a staple of the competition since it began in 2004, marked his milestone birthday on Saturday (January 4).
Fellow Strictly judge and South African dancer Motsi Mabuse took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message, alongside a video of the pair posing for the camera on a shoot.
READ MORE: Rochelle Humes introduces fans to ‘new baby’ after admitting ‘not liking herself’ over secret
READ MORE: Corrie star announces she is pregnant with first child
Motsi wrote: “Happy 60th birthday to one of the most fabulous, inspiring, and unforgettable people I know! ” She continued: “On this milestone, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact you’ve had-not just on Strictly , but in my life personally.”
She went on to say that Revel Horwood was “one of the most amazing people to me” when she joined the show in 2019, adding that his “warmth, wit, and encouragement made my transition into such a prestigious and beloved show not only easier but an absolute joy”.
Motsi further expressed her gratitude for his support after she joined Strictly, stating: “You welcomed me with open arms, and I will never forget how supported and seen you made me feel during those first moments.”
She added: “Over the years, I have come to treasure this (heart emojis), from our laughter-filled conversations to our shared love to Banter, you’ve shown me that beneath your legendary sharp wit is a kind, generous, and truly remarkable soul.” Motsi ended her post by expressing her luck to be sharing this journey with him and celebrating him on his special day.
Anton Du Beke, former Strictly professional and now judge, also took to Instagram with a Halloween throwback photo alongside Craig. The pair were dressed as the ghostly twins from the 1980 horror classic ‘The Shining’ for a special episode of the dance show.
His post was accompanied by a heartfelt birthday message, which read: “Happy 60th birthday to the wonderful @craigrevel! My sister from another mister. Have a fabulous day my love! #60today.”
Shirley Ballas, Craig, Anton and Motsi are gearing up to hit the road later this month for the Strictly live tour. Craig recently opened up to Radio Times about his intentions to compile all the negative comments and so-called death threats he’s received over the years into a book, aiming to “shame them” those who wrote them.
He also reflected on how his judging style has evolved from being “really harsh” to adopting a more constructive approach, akin to that of a teacher rather than a judge.
Craig mentioned that he used to be “very direct” with contestants but now prefers to “wrap the truth in a nice way”. With a rich history in theatre, he has been involved in numerous productions and pantomimes, including taking on the role of Miss Hannigan in the touring production of ‘Annie’. Additionally, he has directed and choreographed the UK tour of the musical ‘Sister Act’.