Strictly True

Craig Revel Horwood is fascinating. There’s no other word for it. Actually there is – enigmatic, camp, honest, entertaining and hugely skilled.

And what a life. You can read all about it in his autobiography which leaves little to the imagination.

He discusses his alcoholic father, his secret dancing lessons and the sexual favours which paid for them, as well as his escape from the homophobic Australian outback to the West End.

But when you’ve finished gasping, consider the facts. Craig, 44, has made it big, despite being born in an inner city goldmining community Down Under.

The Billy Elliot of Ballarat. It’s amazing that this ugly duckling managed to turn into a swan at all.

And yet there’s not an ounce of self-pity in Craig. “I don’t hide that it was this old gent who paid for my dance lessons. That was a choice I made and I can’t name him for legal reasons, but how else was I going to pay for dance lessons? I didn’t want to be a burden to my family.

“So who cares if I had to do things that most people don’t want to talk about. It was my decision and set me up for life.

“And it helped me accept the business as it really is because the ‘casting couch’ scenario still happens.

“But I did become hard as nails, and like a tiger, because if you want something you can go out and get it. And I wanted to inspire other 17 year olds. Not that they should go and rent themselves out,” he chuckles. “But there are grants and things available now.”

The fascinating thing about Craig Revel Horwood is we feel like we know him because of his book and his Saturday night one-liners, but what else?

Not much because he shuns the limelight and would rather be tucked up in bed eating toasted sandwiches and watching old movies.

Even his partner Grant, a Harley Street pharmacist who he met online, was ideal because he had no idea who Craig was. “It was only when we met for mojitos and bangers and mash and Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster came over and started chatting to me that Grant put two and two together,” Craig laughs. “I think he was more of an X-Factor boy.”

And we’re back to Strictly, whose success is as much of a surprise to Craig, as anyone else. Having been chosen at auditions to be a presenter, Craig was worried the show would be awful.

“We all thought it would be the end of our theatrical careers actually because ballroom dancing had been dead and buried for 30 years and we didn’t think there was any way it could come back into fashion.”

Little did he know. So when did he realise? “After the first live show actually, because people were booing and cheering and we realised it was actually entertaining. And then the first viewing figures were six million and then eight and then 10, and now it’s the BBC’s flagship programme, screened globally in 38 countries,” Craig says proudly. “Which is great because people are actually getting up off their sofas and signing up for dance classes.”

So what else did it mean? “Well my anonymity disappeared overnight,” he says matter-of-factly. “In fact I was in Newbury when this old woman came up and slapped me around the face because she thought I’d been mean to a contestant. And then she said ‘But I do love you and don’t change’.

“But I couldn’t care less what people think of me. Yes I’m opinionated, but they pay for that opinion and I care about dance. Besides I’m not going to tell someone they are fab and then stab them in the back, maybe that’s the Australian in me.”

All this fame does have its plus points. Craig gets approached with some fantastic work offers, one of which was to choreograph and direct Hot Mikado, a musical where East meets West in a 1940s-style updating of the perennial Gilbert and Sullivan classic.

“I was delighted to be asked, because Strictly is a weekend gig and being a director and choreographer is my day job. It’s what I do, it’s my creative release.”

Hot Mikado is at the Oxford Playhouse from Tuesday. Call the box office on 01865 305305.