Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has delivered a raw and emotional account of his traumatic childhood, dominated by his father's violent alcoholism and abuse.
A Childhood Marred by Alcoholism and Violence
Horwood described his father, Philip, a former lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy, as a "terrible alcoholic" whose behaviour cast a dark shadow over his entire youth. "Growing up around alcoholism is just awful," he revealed, highlighting the profoundly abusive atmosphere at home.
This difficult environment was a key reason he sought refuge in dance. "Not only because I was porky, but because I just couldn't stand being at home," Horwood explained. "I think that led me to a life of dance." The situation was so severe that he eventually put 10,000 miles between himself and his family.
A Shocking Act of Violence and a Path to Forgiveness
The abuse escalated to a critical point when his father's violence towards his mother turned potentially deadly. Horwood recounted the chilling incident that led to his father's imprisonment: "It got so bad that Dad ended up trying to shoot her and my brother-in-law."
Following his father's sudden death, a toxicology report confirmed the extent of his struggle, showing massive quantities of alcohol in his system. "I think people don't realise how dangerous alcohol can be," Horwood stated. "Poor dad had a disease." He also recalled a brief, four-year period of sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous, which he described as the only time his father was truly sober, a stark "Jekyll and Hyde" transformation.
It was after his father's passing that Horwood made a conscious decision to find peace. "I made the decision that I was going to learn to love him and also love who he could have been," he said, speaking of his journey towards forgiveness.
Supportive Figures and Life Beyond the Trauma
In contrast to his father, Horwood remains deeply devoted to his mother, crediting her for providing normalcy and encouragement and nurturing his passion for performance.
He also shared his admiration for two other maternal figures: royalty. He met the late Queen Elizabeth II, whom he called "the most remarkable lady," and counts Queen Camilla as a friend through their charity work for the Royal Osteoporosis Society. Together, they helped raise an impressive £350,000 at one event, with Horwood personally raising £500,000 for the cause.
Despite their famous on-air bickering, Horwood also revealed a genuine close friendship with fellow Strictly professional Anton du Beke, confessing, "I really love him." He added that the BBC show itself continues to be a source of inspiration in his life.
