Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood once called out Gregg Wallace for saying “some horrible things” about his cooking efforts, while on Celebrity MasterChef.
In his autobiography, In Strictest Confidence, the judge, who turns 60 today, shared his true thoughts on past Strictly contestants including Gregg, 60.
The former MasterChef judge took part in the BBC competition with professional dancer Aliona Vilani in 2014, and was the first celebrity to be voted out of the competition.
In his book, Craig said he could understand how Gregg was feeling on the show – going from a judge to being judged – following his own stint on Celebrity MasterChef in 2007.
Sharing his opinion, he wrote: “Gregg Wallace took everything very seriously and he was extremely nervous.
“He’s used to being the judge himself and it is horrible when the tables are turned, as I know from bitter experience.
“I was judged by him on Celebrity MasterChef back in 2007 and he said some horrible things about my food and I was the one shaking with nerves throughout the whole thing.
“It’s not easy when you are the judger judged.”
Giving critique to Gregg following his Cha Cha routine at the time, Craig likened the chef to a “wind-up toy” and brought up his past comments from MasterChef.
Gregg Wallace was the first to leave Strictly Come Dancing in 2014
(Image: BBC)
“You were really nasty about my pink peppercorns but I’m going to be nice and tell you the truth,” he said.
“You were like a wind-up toy. Like a pressure cooker about to explode. Very camp with the broken wrist and the struts.
“I know how enthusiastic you are – every time I go into catering you’re in there doing a New York. I can only encourage it and hope it gets better.”
Sadly for Gregg, it didn’t, and his time on the show was short-lived.
Later, while discussing the show, he said he “hated” the experience, adding to OK! Magazine: “I love dancing, but if I were paired with somebody who liked me then I would have done better.”
Meanwhile, Craig, who is the longest-serving judge on the show, recently addressed what’s in store for him after turning 60.
Quizzed on retirement claims, he insisted that his schedule was still jam packed as ever.
“I did not [say I was going to retire!] I said my dancing days are over. I still have a bit of a go, but no splits,” he told Best Magazine.
“You can’t really do those with two big his replacements! Being totally honest, I gave up dancing professionally at 30.
“It’s a young person’s game. That said, I think my life is just beginning. I shall be judging, singing and directing until I’m dead.”