Strictly Come Dancing star John Nellis has hit back at judge Craig Revel Horwood. He defended his deliberately laidback Cha Cha performance following criticism on the BBC ballroom dancing competition. The 33-year-old Northern Irish social media creator and his professional partner, Katya Jones, scored 20 points for their routine on October 10. This included a modest four-point score from Revel Horwood.
Addressing the panel’s feedback during the BBC spin-off show It Takes Two on Tuesday, October 13, Nellis explained to host Ellie Taylor that the relaxed style of the dance was entirely intentional. Rather than a technical failure, the choreography reflected the cool character and mood of Justin Timberlake’s hit track “Rock Your Body.”
Responding directly to the critique, Nellis stated that he believed Craig had missed the overarching concept of the performance. “I actually took it as a backhanded compliment,” Nellis told the host. He challenged the assessment further: “I don’t know if Craig missed it, but the whole point of that was being cool. I was meant to be cool. So it is what it is.”
Craig Revel Horwood’s Verdict and Technical Praise
During the Saturday night live show, Craig Revel Horwood did not hold back his thoughts on the routine, awarding the pair a score of four. His feedback focused on the lack of energy and technical impact, noting that the performance felt dull.
“I thought, to be honest, it was too cool, too laidback and not much was happening,” Craig remarked during the live broadcast. “There was no wow factor; it was just a bit dull for my liking.”
Despite the low score and critique, Craig singled out a specific technical moment for praise. He commended John’s New York step, noting the correct placement of his foot with the toe pointed down. He acknowledged that the contestant was putting genuine effort into improving his technical foundation.
Head judge Shirley Ballas offered a differing view on the panel. She suggested that Craig’s strict grading was taking some of the fun out of the proceedings, while viewers debated the merits of the performance online.
Looking Ahead to Icons Week
Despite the mixed reception from the judges, John Nellis and Katya Jones successfully avoided elimination and will return to the ballroom for Icons Week. The upcoming episode will see them switch gears entirely. They will move away from Latin to tackle a Paso Doble to “It’s My Life.”
With scores carrying over from previous weeks and the competition heating up, Nellis will have a fresh opportunity to impress Craig Revel Horwood and the rest of the judging panel when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday.
