I'm not a nasty person says Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood

Craig Revel Horwood says it is strange being dubbed TV's Mr Nasty
Judge duties: Craig with Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Darcy Bussell (Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
Louise Jury16 January 2015
The Weekender

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Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has told how strange it is to be known as TV’s Mr Nasty when he still thinks of himself as a director and choreographer.

He spoke out as he prepares to direct two special concert performances of Stephen Sondheim’s show Follies at the Royal Albert Hall to mark the composer’s 85th birthday with a cast including Into the Woods and Mamma Mia! star Christine Baranski, Anita Dobson, Ruthie Henshall, Roy Hudd, Russell Watson and Anita Harris.

Dancing: Craig doesn't understand his Mr Nasty moniker (Picture: REXMAILPIX)
David Parker

He returns to theatre work every year in between filming Strictly and said he was delighted to stage Follies in concert. “Sondheim is the master of musicals. I just absolutely adore how intelligent his music is and how wonderful it is,” he said.

But he admitted the image created by his tough judging on Strictly had professional advantages and led to a string of offers to appear in villainous roles. He will play cruel orphanage supervisor Miss Hannigan in the stage musical Annie i on tour this summer and then appear as Captain Hook in pantomime in High Wycombe.

“They’re all baddies. I’m typecast, not from me as a person but from me as a character on television. It’s very odd that I’m known as television’s Mr Nasty but I’ve been able to create a lot of theatre work out of that.”

Two performances of Follies, which won seven Tony awards when it premiered in New York in 1971, will take place with the London City Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on April 28.

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