He’s Strictly Come Dancing’s resident ‘Mr Nasty’, but behind the façade, Craig Revel Horwood loves nothing more than dressing up and having a hoot; whether it’s starring as Captain Hook in panto or ringing in the new year with fiancé Jonathan Myring for a very OTT party.
And when we catch up with the dance legend, he tells Closer about panto secrets, his Strictly 2024 highlights, and blows our mind with tales of his ‘drag lasagne’!
Hi Craig! Word on the street is you host a rather legendary New Year’s Eve party – what goes down there?
It's normally swimwear. I heat the pool, and I do fireworks at midnight, and then after that, everyone goes in and has a swim. It's all bikinis and speedos in January. I was born in Australia, so for me, New Year’s hot.
How many are you hosting?
About 100!
Wow, we bet the hangovers are strong on New Year’s Day…
We have ‘drag lasagne’ the next day. Everyone has to get their looks out of the drag bag, because everyone's hanging, and then everyone eats it in drag. After drag lasagne, we do drag croquet. It's quite something!
You must spend a lot of time away from home during panto season?
Well, I generally just stay at the hotel, but this year, because I'm in Milton Keynes, I can have Christmas at home, which I'm very much looking forward to.
Do you dress up on Christmas Day in your household?
Oh yes. My mum would always say, ‘You put the Sunday best on for Christmas Day.’ You don't want to be just slobbing around, do you, in the slug zone? That's not me. We dress up and then maybe we'll even do a change for the evening. Put a wig on and a lash.
What’s the secret to being a really good panto villain?
[Laugh] Encouraging the boos, encouraging the live nature of it. Plus, villains are way more interesting: you get the best lines, the best songs.
It’s been a great series of Strictly. What have been some of your favourite moments?
Well, Tasha [Ghouri], she’s been absolutely amazing. I loved her contemporary; in fact, every dance she did was incredible. Chris [McCausland] has done really well, too. Very surprising. I didn't think he would have as much rhythm as he has.
The standard gets higher every year!
Every year surprises me, because you always think, 'Oh, it'll never be as good as last year.' But actually, it's the casting that really makes it.
