‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge Craig Revel Horwood insists Dev Griffin was the right person to leave the show last weekend because he was the "worst dancer on the night".
Craig, 54, and the rest of the judging panel – Motsi Mabuse, Bruno Tonioli and head judge Shirley Ballas – were criticised by fans of the BBC One ballroom show for axing the Radio One DJ and his partner Dianne Buswell over Viscountess Emma Weymouth and Aljaz Skorjanec in the dance-off with most believing Dev was a superior dancer.
However, Craig stands by the decision, insisting on the night Dev flopped on the dancefloor and he and his colleagues have to make their decision based on what happens when the pressure is on, not what has come before.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the Best Heroes Awards held at The Bloomsbury Hotel in London on Tuesday night (15.10.19), he said: "Yeah, absolutely, professionally, he was the right person to go. If you had asked me last week, I would have loved him to stay, his routine when he was the Genie was absolutely amazing but sadly he failed on the night. I think Dev – in my opinion – was the worst dancer on the night. If he had done his other routine against the competition then he may have been successful going through, it’s the luck of the draw."
Craig has earned a reputation for being the toughest judge on the ‘Strictly’ panel but he thinks his honest critiques can help the celebrities improve their ballroom skills and ensure they go further in the competition.
When asked if he thinks the pros and their partners take his critique most seriously, he said: "I think that’s probably true, only because I’m going to help them in the end. If you listen to them, they’re quite sound, and if you go away and do what you say you might get better."
Craig was joined at the Best Heroes Awards by a host of stars including Ulrika Jonsson, Christopher Biggins, Bianca Gascogine, ‘EastEnders’ actress Tanya Franks, fellow Albert Square resident Jake Wood, Helen Lederer and ‘TOWIE’ regulars Bobby Norris and Yazmin Oukhellou.
The ceremony was presented by Eamonn Holmes and the Best Heroes Awards recognise the inspirational acts of people across the UK who are working to raise money for charity and campaign against discrimination.
Craig Revel Horwood says judges were right to ditch Dev Griffin
