Craig Revel Horwood has always been characterised as the on-screen villain in Strictly Come Dancing. His brutal, but perhaps the most honest, judging style on the show often rouses hisses and boos from the studio audience in the true spirit of pantomime.
The 57-year-old will finally be debuting one of his most famous pantomime roles at the Bristol Hippodrome this year after a three-year wait. He’s primed to play the panto dame, the Wicked Stepmother, alongside Alison Jier as the Fairy Godmother, Bristol’s own Lauren Hampton as Cinderella, Daniel Norford as Dandini and panto legend Andy Ford as Buttons.
It will be his third time playing the role in his 16-year pantomime career, but each version has been completely different with the cast shaping the core of the character and each time brings different nuances, Craig explained. Despite his experience, he admitted it’s still a huge challenge that he welcomes, and said pantomime performers must be skilled in acting, singing and dancing.
