Craig Revel Horwood has dismissed suggestions Kevin Clifton has been paired with Anneka Rice on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ as a "punishment".
The 54-year-old choreographer – who recently apologised over a jibe he made about the dancer and his girlfriend Stacey Dooley – thinks the programme veteran is "the only one" who could get the former ‘Treasure Hunt’ star through the first round of this year’s competition.
Dismissing speculation Kevin had been given a partner unlikely to win as a punishment for striking up a romance with Stacey, Craig said: "I don’t think it was a punishment. He is probably the only one who is going to get Anneka to round two.
"I hope he is going to wave his magic wand…"
And Craig insisted he thinks Kevin and Stacey’s relationship is "fantastic".
He gushed to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Kevin is having a lovely relationship with Stacey. They really love each other and I think it is fantastic.
"It is the ‘Strictly’ blessing rather than the curse. It is not a curse when two people get together."
Just a few weeks ago, the judge was forced to apologise and admitted he had had made a "huge error" when he joked about the relationship between last year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ champions at the filming of the launch show for the 2019 series, after he claimed they proved that it "helped" the contestants if they slept with their professional partners.
He said: "I’m deeply sorry for the offence caused to Kevin and Stacey and everyone who works on the show.
"I recognise that what I said was hurtful, cruel and incredibly disrespectful. It was a huge error of judgment that I very much regret."
Craig made his comments after Stacey and Kevin – whose relationship emerged some time after the show ended – had danced and host Tess Daly then asked the judging panel, which also features Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli for their advice to this year’s cast.
The dance expert said the hopefuls should be inspired by the documentary maker but then quipped: "Stacey was dragged up from the dance gutter… of course, if you sleep with your dance partner that helps."
Filming was immediately stopped and aides spoke with Stacey and her family before the panel sequence was re-shot.
A source previously said: "It was an awful moment. Craig was obviously trying to be funny, but realised as soon as he said it that he had gone too far.
"The audience was visibly shocked, as was Tess Daly and the other judges.
"Immediately after he made the comment, ‘cut’ was called, and chaos broke out."
Craig Revel Horwood: Kevin Clifton isn’t being punished
