Craig Revel Horwood took a swipe at Ola Jordan after she suggested that he should be replaced on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel. 

The dancer, 60, who has been on the show since its inception in 2004, sits on the panel with Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas.

Former professional Ola, 42, starred on the BBC series from 2006 to 2015, and is married to fellow dancer James, 46, who left Strictly in 2012 after appearing on eight series’.

She recently claimed Craig should be replaced by a new judge with ‘more spice’ as the competition is becoming ‘too nicey nicey.’

Addressing Ola’s criticism on X, he wrote: ‘”Former Strictly pro Ola Jordan says ‘nicey nicey’ Craig Revel Horwood replaced with ‘spicier’ judge.” Maybe you’d like to suggest your wonderful husband, Ola?’

James became embroiled in the drama when unearthed footage come out of him telling his former partner Georgina Bouzova he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves in 2006.

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Craig Revel Horwood took a swipe at Ola Jordan after she suggested that he should be replaced on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel (pictured in September)

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Former professional Ola, 42, starred on the BBC series from 2006 to 2015, and is married to fellow dancer James, 46, who left in 2012 after appearing on eight series’ (pictured in 2012)

It was then reported his wife Ola’s previous partner Steve Backshall complained to the BBC that she had ‘bullied’ him when they starred together in 2014.

Ola previously explained how Strictly ‘needs a refresh to keep it appealing to audiences’ even if that means replacing the panel.

Speaking in an interview with Mecca Bingo, Ola said: ‘I feel like Craig’s lost his sparkle. People loved Craig for what he was before.

‘He would say it as it is, saying he wasn’t good, that was rubbish, but it’s almost like he’s got to say a positive now.

‘He’s obviously been told they’ve got to be positive and that they don’t want any negativity in the show and that comes from producers, but they need to look at what the public wants really. It’s too nicey nicey.’

She added: ‘They’re all the same every year, so maybe they need a new judge – someone with a bit more spice on the panel. You could even have a different guest judge every week.’

Craig admitted his ‘cutting remarks’ from 20 years ago would be deemed ‘bullying’ now and he’d be cancelled for saying them today.

Known for his no-nonsense critiques and sharp tongue, the long-standing Strictly star shared that he has softened his judging approach on the entertainment show.

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She recently claimed Craig should be replaced by a new judge with ‘more spice’ as the competition is becoming ‘too nicey nicey’ (pictured in 2022)

Addressing Ola’s criticism on X, he wrote: ‘Maybe you’d like to suggest your wonderful husband Ola?’

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James was embroiled in the drama when it unearthed footage come out of him telling his former partner Georgina Bouzova he would ‘drag her across the floor and scream at her’ if she forgot her moves in 2006

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It was then reported his wife Ola’s previous partner Steve Backshall complained to the BBC that she had ‘bullied’ him when they starred together in 2014

He told Radio Times: ‘I have changed my style of judging. I was really harsh 20 years ago. When I look back, I think, “Ooh, that’s cutting.” It would now be classed as bullying, and then I’d be cancelled.’

He said his approach has shifted toward a more constructive style, where he thinks ‘more like a teacher than a judge.’

The choreographer, who is engaged to horticulturist Jonathan Myring, used to be ‘tough on people who couldn’t dance.’

‘I was very direct. I do still say what’s wrong, but you can wrap the truth in a nice way.’

‘I’m not there for their emotions. I don’t care how it affects them in that way, because they need to learn and respect my opinion.’

His acidic assessments on the dance show have led to online trolls sending the judge death threats and abuse.

The BBC show has faced heaps of ongoing allegations from former contestants, claiming they faced ‘abuse’ in rehearsals on the show.

James quickly slammed the BBC after the clip began doing the rounds again – saying most of the footage ‘was not related to Georgina at all’.

The clip, which was filmed during the fourth series back in 2006, shows him rehearsing with actress Georgina.

He also says to her ‘kill you’ as he demands she stands on one leg and insists that unless she has physically broken a rib he doesn’t care what pain she is in. He is also seen throwing a chair across the training studio.

k, he responded to the clip on his Instagram as he shared a raging statement saying that the footage was ‘edited for entertainment’ and was ‘highly produced and exaggerated’.

He said there ‘is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the VT’ – while insisting none of his celebrity partners ever complained about him during his eight years on the show.

James penned in the caption to his post as he shared a snap dancing with Georgina: ‘For those of you who have seen the edited BBC VT of me training with Georgina 18 years ago – yes I had hair once!!

‘But I just wanted to reassure you that footage was shot and edited together by the BBC team for transmission on It Takes Two 18 years ago in specific ways for the purposes of ENTERTAINMENT.

‘Many of the clips were not related to Georgina at all (they are not allowed to do that these days as it misrepresents what actually happened) but were included for the purpose of exaggeration.’

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James responded to the clip on his Instagram as he shared a raging statement saying that the footage was ‘edited for entertainment’ and was ‘highly produced and exaggerated’

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Ola and James pictured in September 2011

He continued: ‘The BBC thought it would be fun to put this VT together in the way they did. You can see Georgina laughing about it in the studio and in the clips… And I have never received ANY complaints from any of my celebrity dance partners in the 8 years I was on the show.

‘Obviously if I had genuinely upset anyone, that footage would NEVER have been allowed to be used in that way by the BBC themselves. The Producers loved to paint me as the bad guy and I played along…always a perfectionist …but I would never have deliberately upset anyone and pride myself on good friendships with my celebrity dance partners.

‘I strongly suggest that nobody attempts to link this edited BBC VT with the current alleged reports of abusive behaviour taking place behind the scenes by other Strictly professionals.

‘There is no comparison to be drawn between those awful allegations and the highly produced and exaggerated VT from the BBC archives that is featuring on social media. To be clear, I deplore bullying or abusiveness in the workplace.’

James, who left Strictly in 2012 after appearing on eight series, also banned Georgina, who formerly starred on Casualty, from eating sweets and chocolate and would only allow her to buy pineapple and ham when they visited a supermarket.