Craig Revel Horwood has signed a new £200,000 contract with ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 54-year-old star currently sits on the judging panel for the BBC Latin and ballroom dance competition – where he is known for his sharp tongue – and has now revealed he’s signed a new 12-month contract with the show, which will see him continue to deliver tongue lashings for at least another year.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror newspaper, he said: "I have just signed for another year and I am looking forward to it. I have no intention of leaving.
"As I have said, the only reason I would only leave if I was told I could not speak my mind. I haven’t been told that, so I am staying."
It has been claimed Craig – who has been a fixture on the judging panel since the show began in 2004 – will also receive a pay increase, having his salary bumped from £180,000 to £200,000.
And his decision to sign on for another year comes after he recently hit out at former head judge Len Goodman, after the 75-year-old dance expert admitted he feels the show has gotten too sexy and has lost its focus on classic ballroom and Latin.
Craig thinks it was important for the show to "evolve" and Len should remember it is an "entertainment" programme, not just a dance competition.
The current judge said: "So, former Head Judge Len Goodman has been lamenting the ‘old-school’ ‘Strictly’, saying there are too many props now, and too much sexiness. I love it! ‘Strictly’ has evolved – there are such beautiful stories within each dance.
"We’re not doing a ballroom and Latin competition, it’s an entertainment show.
"Len’s living in the Dark Ages. He’s forgotten his youth!"
Len admitted he doesn’t like the theatrical settings of a lot of the routines and wants to only judge dance, rather than "performance".
He previously said: "It’s not only sex, I used to hate it even if a swing was involved and they were sitting on a swing. And props, going down on one knee, giving them a rose. Get on with it!
"I remember somebody taking half the routine to get down the stairs. It was when Craig had a bad hip, and I said, ‘Craig would’ve got down quicker than you’.
"I don’t want to judge strange dancing. It wasn’t about technique or anything, it was all about the performance, and I didn’t want to judge just on performance."
Craig Revel Horwood signs new deal with Strictly Come Dancing
