Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood says the BBC forced him to apologise to Stacey Dooley and insists his ‘cruel’ joke was funny
CRAIG Revel Horwood says the BBC forced him to apologise to Strictly winner Stacey Dooley and reckons his joke is still funny.
Craig, 54, was caught on tape saying: "Stacey was dragged up from the dance gutter. Of course, if you sleep with your dance partner that helps."
The original panellist eventually retracted his remarks last month about the documentary maker bedding Kevin Clifton, 36.
However, he's now revealed it was under duress.
When asked about his apology, he sarcastically sniped in an interview with New magazine: "Did I (say sorry) or was that the BBC?
"Oh yes I did. It was very grovel-ly. It doesn't even sound like me. You'd think I'd done something really out of order."
And Craig stood his ground, insisting his jibe was made to make people laugh and not start wars.
He added: "A jokey remark was treated like it was the start of World War Three. I guess if some people are quite sensitive then they need the apology. So I just apologised it's quite simple.
"I thought it was quite funny, but it wasn't taken that way."
The dancing judge also bemoaned the state of television.
Craig concluded: "Where is the laughter? Everyone's so scared of saying the wrong thing, there's no edge anymore."
He added: "I don't intend to change. I'll be sacked before I do!"
Craig has been a judge on the dance show since it began in 2004 and is thought to earn up to £200,000 a series.
Craig could also be chasing a bigger salary after being furious that his fellow judge Shirley Ballas, 59, was brought in on more money than him.
In 2018, his earnings were between £150,000 and £200,000.
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He said at the time: “I think women should be paid the same as men. That’s for sure.
“But what would you say to a woman coming in after you’ve been in the job for 15 years when they’ve done absolutely nothing to earn it? I don’t think that’s right.
“For instance, Shirley Ballas, in that way, you’d expect she would start on something lower because she’s never been on TV before.”
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