Strictly Come Dancing Craig: 'Holly needs a kick up the backside!'

Craig Revel Horwood tells us why performing in front of 6,500 could give Holly Valance the kick up the backside she needs in Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1, Saturday)!

How big an audience are you expecting for the Children In Need special at Wembley Arena?
"For the first time ever, the show will be filmed in front of a live audience of 6,500 instead of the usual few hundred! So it’s very, very exciting, as the atmosphere that creates will be amazing."

No doubt the celebrities will be extremely nervous performing in front of such a huge crowd. Does that mean you’ll go easy on them?
"Not at all and when you’ve got 6,500 people booing at you, it is quite frightening! It resonates through your entire chest. Of course, I’ve had experience of that on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, but it’s never been televised before."

Some of the professional dancers like to argue with you, particularly James Jordan during this series?
"Oh, he’s just bigging himself up, trying to get in the headlines. But I don’t care. I can explain myself well enough. Have a go, that’s what I say!"

Do you think nerves could ruin some of the celebrities’ performances?
"If you suffer from any nerves at all on the usual show then that is going to quadruple! It tends to lead to silly mistakes and that can throw you off. But sometimes people feed off that nervous frenzy and it makes their dancing so much better. I think the audience will really be on the celebrities’ side."

Who are you most looking forward to seeing on the Wembley stage?
"I think Jason Donovan will be the big drawcard. Everyone will be hoping for something explosive and amazing from him. He’s a person you can really trust on the dance floor."

"I’m also hoping that Holly Valance makes it to the show as the nerves should make her put a little more energy into her dancing. The huge audience could just give her the massive kick up the backside she needs!"

What is your personal highlight from all the shows so far?
"Fiona Phillips! A massive highlight for me was watching her doing a spin! I could have watched her all night. Another was Pamela Stephenson falling over – that was hilarious! I must have rewound that about 30 times. I was in hysterics!"