Craig Revel Horwood on ballet

Craig Revel Horwood, a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, revealed on BBC Breakfast that his former ballet teacher used to hit him with a cane during his training, a practice he acknowledges would not be acceptable today. His comments come amidst a scandal involving allegations of abusive behavior by professional dancers on the show, specifically Giovanni Pernice, who has denied claims of bullying, and Graziano Di Prima, who was sacked after kicking a celebrity partner during rehearsal. Revel Horwood expressed shock over these recent allegations, stating he learned of them through the press as judges are kept separate from contestants. He reflected on the tough training he endured, indicating that the culture of dance training has evolved significantly over the past 40 years. The scandal has raised concerns about the future of Strictly as it prepares for its 20th series, with Revel Horwood acknowledging that training methods can vary greatly among dancers.