Strictly: Craig Revel Horwood talks to Paul Merton about drinking at bar
Paul Merson went head to head with Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood on Saturday night during the live shows. The 56-year-old football star hit back and suggested that he get on the football pitch and play a game with him.
Kicking off the vibrant performance on the popular BBC show, Paul and professional dancer Karen Hauer put on a theatrical introduction which eased them into the routine. Paul was spotted cooking at a summer BBQ and ended up using a prop drink in his hand.
He quickly got rid of the glass and began the choreography. However, Horwood, 59, was brutal when he gave his feedback and slammed Merson branding it a “comedy dance.” Craig said: "Obviously the drinks at the barbecue gave the confidence to do that.
“It was like a comedy dance at a wedding I'm afraid, it was really not good,” he added. Although, Paul hit back and mumbled under his breath saying, “I don’t drink.”
Horwood continued without acknowledgement claiming: "Those shunts were terrible, you were glued to the floor and Karen did everything dancing around you.” However, he did praise him on one element and shared: “I have to commend you on the lifts. The lifts were very good."
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Craig's comments sparked fury as fans rushed to comment on the gaffe. One said: "Did Craig really just say he thought the drinks at the barbecue gave Paul Merson confidence. Tactless in the extreme."
A third commented: "Oh gosh not really good of Craig to make a drinks joke to Paul Merson." Another added: "Well that was a massive faux pas on Craig's behalf. Clearly doesn't know Paul is an Alcoholic."
Merson had a stellar career in football and quickly became a mega-star after playing for Premier League teams like Arsenal, Aston Villa and Middlesborough.
Today he is mostly recognised for being a pundit for Sky Sports. Yet off the pitch, he has been honest and spoken candidly about his struggle with addiction to alcohol, cocaine and gambling.
Merson appeared on Strictly: It Takes Two, and told host Fleur East: "I have never danced solo, I didn't get it in the end, when it came to Craig and he said it seemed like Karen was dancing around you and you were just standing there.
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"I thought well that was the whole idea, she is the pro and I will just stand there. If I was doing a football show and I had people like Craig who never kicked a ball in his life [and] three weeks later I had a football match, I am the one who gets on the ball and gives him the ball every now and then, I am not going to give it to him all the time or we are going to get absolutely ripped to shreds and that's the way I looked at it!"
This week he will be preparing to battle it out with his fellow contestants including the likes of Toyah Wilxcox and Shayne Ward for Movie Week along with the other star-studded list of celebs.
Paul suggested that a horse may be involved and touched upon his previous struggles with gambling and alcoholism.
He added to East, 36: "I am dyslexic so there is not much I can do is there. Now we're on a horse this time round. I lost all my money gambling, and now we're sitting on horses. There was a BBQ and I don't drink anymore, I mean, what's next?"
Fans picked up on the dig by Horwood and suggested he do his research on celebrities after taking to social media to write their thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC1 One and iPlayer on Saturday at 6:25pm.
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