The One Show: Craig says first ever show was a 'disaster'

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The countdown to Strictly Come Dancing’s return is finally over as a fresh line-up of famous faces prepares to meet their professional partners in tomorrow night’s launch show. And as if Strictly fever wasn’t high enough, judges Craig Revel-Harwood and Anton Du Beke joined Ronan Keating and Rylan Clark-Neal on Friday’s The One Show to discuss the upcoming series. However, after looking back on some of the show’s most classic moments, Rylan was quick to grill Craig on his original thoughts on the programme.

Craig has been a mainstay on the Strictly judging panel since day one, while Anton has appeared in every series prior to 2021 as a pro dancer.

Way back in 2004, Craig joined fellow judges Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Arlene Phillips on the panel as they watched a group of celebrities battle for the Glitterball Trophy for the first time.

And while 17 years later the BBC dance competition is arguably one of the most popular shows on television, it’s safe to say Craig wasn’t convinced at first.

Confronting him about his initial thoughts on the show, Rylan grilled Craig after watching a best bits highlights package.

“It’s so nice to look back,” Rylan said to The One Show guests Anton and Craig. “We see Bruce in there as well. So lovely, 

“But Craig, we’re going to take a bit of a turn,” Rylan said as he flipped the interview on its head.

He continued: “Because back in 2004, I think it was you and Len [Goodman] actually, the pair of you said, ‘This show will probably be on for about three weeks and that’ll be it, done.’”

Craig stood by his earlier criticism, replying: “Oh completely. 

“We got together, we said, ‘Well that first show was an absolute disaster, darling. Let’s see where it goes,’

“And then we thought it was going to be totally axed after about three weeks,” Craig admitted.

However, he couldn’t have been more wrong as he continued: “But it completely did a full swing about and people absolutely loved it. 

“Now, it goes to 60 countries worldwide, isn’t that amazing? It really has just won the hearts and minds across the world, all because of me,” he joked.

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Craig and Anton will be back on screens tomorrow night as this year’s line-up discover who their pro partners are.

Robert Webb, Tom Fletcher, Aj Odudu, John Whaite, Rhys Stephenson, Sara Davies, Katie McGlynn, Dan Walker, Tilly Ramsay, Greg wise, Nina Wadia, Adam Peaty, Judi Love, Ugo Monye and Rose Ayling-Ellis complete the class of 2021.

And while the final is still some time away, a handful of celebs have emerged as frontrunners to win the contest.

As it stands before the premiere, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Tom Flecther lead the market with bookies slashing odds on the pair.

The pair currently sits as joint 5/1 favourites according to gambling.com, with spokesperson Darren Hughes saying: “With now less than 24 hours until Britain’s favourite celebrity dance-off returns to our screens for the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing, the betting markets are as competitive as ever, with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and pop-star Tom Fletcher the market leaders at this early stage. 

“The popular Manchester-born actress Ayling-Ellis will be the first-ever deaf performer on the show this season, and has seen her odds collapse in recent weeks, from 8/1 to a now joint 5/1 favouritism with Fletcher Ellis’ odds suggest that both she and Fletcher have a 16 percent chance of winning the show according to latest bookmaker odds.”

Rhys Stephenson comes in third in the odds with 13/2 while Peep Show favourite Robert Webb is ranked as a close outsider at 8/1.

The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One.
Strictly Come Dancing 2021 begins at 7:45pm on Saturday on BBC One.

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