Express & Star

Craig Revel Horwood: I'm paid to judge – not to be a pal

People think I'm this Mr Nasty but I'm not," says Craig Revel Horwood, not entirely convincingly.

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"With Strictly I am paid to be a judge. I critique their performance and I am honest with them.

"When I am judging, I am judging – I'm not paid to be their friend. Besides, you wouldn't get any other judge in the land sitting there with a glass of wine, being themselves and saying 'Daaarling this and daaarling that'. I am there to judge them!"

As Craig tries to convince us that he's a big softie, a few other Strictly favourites are milling around.

Artem Chigvintsev is digging into a lunchbox full of noodles ("no onions, I hate onions," he growls in his slightly-scary Russian accent), Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite are practising in the corridor and Lisa Riley is texting her former partner Robin Windsor. "He's coming down later," she squeals. "He's one of my best friends."

All are rehearsing in a church hall on London's Tottenham Court Road for Strictly Confidential, a new stage show that lifts the lid on life behind the scenes on Strictly Come Dancing.

Told through the eyes of Lisa, it's an all-out music and dance extravaganza that also reveals the little-known life stories of the professional dancers. It is well and truly Craig's baby, he wrote, choreographed and directed it.

"I wanted to create a show that would travel," he tells the Star. "I had to come up with a concept that would tell a story as well as bringing in dance and amazing live music.

"I didn't know how to label it though, how to sell it. I suppose it's an autobiographical dance spectacular. Lisa is at the heart of it because her Strictly story is so interesting and she can sing, dance and act – she was the heartbeat of the last series.

"Lisa's back story – with her mother dying from cancer just a few weeks before she was starting the show – is so interesting and I wanted someone who the audience loved.

"The professional dancers all have amazing stories too, for example Artem and his fight to get out of Russia and working in the USA.

"I took my inspiration from a chorus line, you know, how they all step forward and tell the audience about themselves. Once I had that, I could write it all quite quickly."

So how do the professional dancers feel about having their personal lives front and centre for a change?

"It's really exciting," says Natalie. "It's usually all about the celebrities but now we get to share our stories too."

Ian adds: "The biggest challenge for us is learning the lines and the monologues. Obviously, there's lots of energy and dancing but there is acting too, which is new for us. Going home every night and learning lines is different. We're used to picking up routines quickly, especially with the time pressures of Strictly, but this is something new."

"Don't think all professional dancers pick up routines quickly though," laughs Natalie. "That's not always the case!"

At this point the live band pipes up to run through River Deep Mountain High. Craig is standing in front of them directing every note and movement – as well as bursting into some pretty impressive Tina Turner moves.

"It's lots of fun," says Lisa, taking a break from her painful dance shoes. "That's what it should be about, that's what I wanted to bring to it as people said that's what I brought to Strictly. I'm very proud to be involved.

"It was June last year that I found out I had Strictly and I didn't tell anyone apart from my immediate family. Now, June this year, I am about the star in an all-dancing stage show directed by Craig Revel Horwood. Who would have thought that?

"I'm having such a laugh with everyone. I've even managed to make Artem camp. We're on the road for two-and-a-half months so you have to get along and have a laugh.

"You have to deliver each and every night in the theatre. With TV, you have a bit more room to make mistakes but you only have one chance with a live audience. And an audience in Manchester isn't the same as one in Cornwall so you have to find out what they respond to and then deliver that."

Artem agrees: "The Strictly audience is all around you and there are cameras everywhere. With theatre, the audience are right there in front of you, soaking it all in. It's a very different vibe."

It's safe to say that Strictly has changed the lives of each and every person in the rehearsal room but perhaps none more so than Lisa.

She and Robin were one of the favourite partnerships last year and her Wembley splits will go down in SCD history. As well as being involved in this new stage show, the 36-year-old also revealed to Weekend she will be playing a part in the next TV series too.

"With Strictly, I just went with it," she says. "I wasn't competitive, I was best friends with Robin. I worked hard in that practise room and I wanted to get things right and learn but I wasn't competitive. I thought I would be out in the first week. I just threw myself into it, that's my drama school training.

"The show ended up changing my life. People say I gave a voice to bigger women and brought a positive spin to the show. But big, small, whatever, I hope I gave people the confidence to try something new and get out there.

"I don't know how they will top it this year but they will. The professionals play a huge part in that – their skills make us celebrities look good. They make us shine.

"Once you're in the Strictly family, you're in for life. As for me and the next series, well, watch this space. I'm not telling you any more but like I said, I'm in the Strictly family for life so you may not have seen the last of me."

As for the celebrities appearing on the next series, Lisa says she knows the identity of two, whom she will say no more about other than to describe them as "spectacular".

Craig nods in agreement that it will undoubtedly be the biggest and best series yet.

"It gets better each year," he says during a quick break. "The celebrities are better, the professionals are better, it's a fantastic show.

"And I want the TV audience to get out there and support the theatre. Theatre is me, I am theatre, that's my gig. It's how I got Strictly, it's how it all started.

"I've been doing it for 18 years – writing, directing, choreography – and with this show I wanted people to feel something, to really have a fabulous time with music and dance."

Strictly Confidential hit the road last week and will be coming to Birmingham's Symphony Hall on July 24. As well as the autobiographical elements, there will also be some of the fans' favourite routines from the show.

"This is old fashioned variety," Lisa says. "There's everything in it and hopefully it will bring people out into the theatre, it is a must for any Strictly fan."

After the national tour draws to a close at the end of next month, all thoughts turn to the next TV series and there have already been a few changes to the pro-dancer line-up. Out are Vincent and Flavia and Erin and Aliona and in are Emma Slater, Aljaž Skorjanec, Janette Manrara and Iveta Lukosiute.

Artem, Natalie and Ian say the competitiveness is already building.

"There is competition to get the best contestant," admits Natalie. "The dancers are competitive. About three or four weeks before the launch show, we all get together and size everyone up."

"But you never know how people will progress," adds Ian. "Just look at Chris Hollins. Who'd have thought he would win?"

"You never know what to expect," says Artem. "Sometimes you think you'll get everything – rhythm, timing, musicality – and it will be great but you get nothing. You have to play to their strengths. As long as they can memorise things, you'll be fine – but some of them can't do that."

Whatever the standard of celebrity though, it seems there is one golden rule for the professional dancers – always stick by your partner.

"In the beginning you don't know who they are but you get to know them. They lean on you," Artem explains, before adding with a smirk: "You do always want the best person though."

"You have to stick with your celeb when they go against the judges," Ian agrees. "The criticism is generally right."

"But there's a fine line," Artem says. "You don't want the judges to go too far. You do feel protective of your partner."

Celebrities rumoured to be taking part next series include Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, Olympian Jessica Ennis, Spice Girl Mel C and former X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

"We can't tell you anything," says Natalie. "We're sworn to secrecy but whoever does it needs to be prepared."

With that, the band starts up again and the cast are called back to the floor by Craig to run through the opening number.

Lisa more than holds her own against the professional dancers and the whole thing looks as sleek and sparkly as could be.

Craig watches on, his head nodding in approval.

"Fabulous," he says. "Fab-U-lous."

Elizabeth Joyce

Strictly Confidential comes to Birmingham Symphony Hall on July 24. Call the box office on 0121 345 0600.

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