Craig Revel Horwood has revealed he no longer uses make-up artists on Strictly Come Dancing, saying the change helps him be a better judge. The 61-year-old learned to apply his own make-up during his theatre career and continues to do so when starring in pantomime.
Why he does his own make-up
“There's the make up which I do myself, oh yes. I have always done that, I think most normal actors are aware of that. You are trained to do your own make up. I was amazed when I went into television that you could sit in a chair and someone else does it,” he explained.
Referring to changes he has made at weekends, he added: “I have resorted on Strictly for instance to doing my own. I just prefer it, I don't like all the fuss, no bother, I don't like all the knocks on the door. I sit quietly and read a book and take my mind off everything so I can go out and judge seriously in that way.”
Strictly and pantomime similarities
Craig was speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival where he was promoting his new book about pantomimes. He insisted Strictly Come Dancing had many similarities with Christmas theatre shows.
“Strictly I suppose is panto-esque. We have cheering and people shouting and that is good. What is great is it has a sense of humour and it is on TV but it includes people at home from 3 to 93 and there are not many live shows that do that,” he said.
“And certainly there are not many things on TV that creates the same community values and the wokeness is great because it brings in everyone and I think that is great. And the more they keep changing up panto and making it current the better it is.”
Craig also admitted he used to be “naive” and a “bit of a snob” about pantomime before being won over after watching some in the UK and then starring in them too. He now believes they are a crucial part of the theatre ecosystem, both for the financial boost they give and because they help get children away from screens for a couple of hours at Christmas.
Pantomime's role for children
“I think it is great and I always had a thought that panto does a lot of good for all of theatre. I think if children weren't exposed to theatre from a young age they would probably never go. They would rather be sitting at home on an iPad or an iPhone playing a game,” he said.
“What panto does is introduces children to theatre and what is great about it is the fact these kids can come along and seen and heard. Generally I was told as a child be seen and not be heard. It is a requirement where children can be part of the play and part of the story. They are allowed to scream and they are allowed to show emotion and to cry and laugh and boo and they can be really, really loud and they won't upset their parents. It gives them licence to do that.
“Getting them out of all that, stuff like iPads and iPhones and games and stuff like that which is anti social into a social environment is great. You want them to be naughty and they have a licence to do it.”
Craig will be back on screen this weekend on Strictly and, after giving the audience at Cheltenham a dance lesson, insisted anyone could be a good dancer. “Everyone can dance, I believe that. It doesn't matter if you have a disability, it doesn't matter who you are in society. Dance has been around for millions of years, birds do it to mate, caveman dancing around fire for fertility. People communicating with their bodies before they could talk. Dance has been around forever.
“As much as people say they have two left feet they are scared of making a fool of themselves, you should dance like no one's watching, and people do at weddings.”
The Book Of Panto by Craig Revel Horwood is published by Faber & Faber.
