Strictly judge issues huge career announcement in move away from show
The 2025 series of Strictly has officially kicked off, with the first pair being eliminated last weekend
Craig Revel Horwood has been a judge on Strictly since it first launched (Image: Getty)
Strictly Come Dancing ‘s Craig Revel-Horwood has sent fans wild as he announced a huge career move away from the show. Strictly fans have expressed their excitement as Craig prepares to take to the stage outside of the show. In an Instagram video, Craig chatted to BBC East Midlands, he revealed: “I am starring in a pantomime, here in lovely Nottingham. I’m playing the wicked stepmother, and the beauty is that I have two gorgeous daughters whom I’m trying to marry off. Because, unfortunately, I’ve run out of money. We love it and we can’t wait to entertain everyone here in Nottingham this Christmas. It’s going to be fab-u-lous!”
Several of Craig’s fans were delighted with his announcement and took to the comments section to express their excitement. One person commented: “We bought tix a while ago, we can’t wait..our first panto too.. !!” A second also chimed in: “Omg I remember you playing the evil stepmother in Cinderella Woking a few years back.”
The Theatre Royal Nottingham also made an official post announcing the full cast for this year’s panto, adding the caption: “Get ready to meet your dazzling cast! Craig Revel Horwood @craigrevel as the Wicked Stepmother, Neil Hurst @neilhurstuk as Buttons, Christina Bianco @xtinabianco1 as the Fairy Godmother, Stephenson Ardern-Sodje @stephenson_ltd as Prince Charming, Daniel Norford @daniel_norford as Dandini and Abigail Morris @abigailmorriss_ as Cinderella, Britt Lenting @britt.lenting and May Tether @maytether as the Wicked Sisters.”
The 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing began on September 20. The launch saw the show’s hosts, Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 53, pair the 15 celebrities taking part in the programme with their professional dance partners.
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The 15 celebrities battling it out to win the coveted Glitterball Trophy are 36-year-old Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – also known as Nitro from BBC’s Gladiators – Love Island star Amber Davies, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, and Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, 62.
Also, YouTuber-and-podcaster George Clarke, 25, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, 46, model Ellie Goldstein, 23 – the first model with Down Syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue magazine – and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix, 45, will grace the ballroom floor.
In addition, retired England rugby player Chris Robshaw, 39, former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, 37, and Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66, are currently taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
TV star Ross King, 63, former England women’s football player Karen Carney, 38, and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope complete the lineup.
