Strictly Come Dancing has never needed Craig Revel Horwood more

The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 finale was more of a gut punch than a celebration.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, no matter how much they tried to keep the focus on the three finalists, found the impact of their exit completely overshadowing the competition.

Even though former footballer Karen Carney deservedly took home the glitterball, this was almost irrelevant in light of Tess and Claudia’s final episode, where it became abundantly clear how much their unlikely friendship and unique chemistry had been the beating heart of one of the biggest TV shows of the 21st century. 

It even earned the pair a letter from Queen Camilla, read out to them by Craig Revel Horward on Saturday night, thanking them for their incredible contribution to British broadcasting. 

Strictly Come Dancing future looks unclear, currently, there’s no obvious front-runner to replace them. Zoe Ball is perhaps the most likely choice, and I’d agree she would be the best one. I hope they keep a female duo at the helm – a rarity in entertainment television.

If this series has highlighted anything for me, though, it’s that without Tess and Claudia, Craig is more important to Strictly Come Dancing than ever before.

While Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke handed out full marks for almost every performance – even when some were clearly imperfect – Craig stayed true to his guns. His paddle reflected that honesty every time.

Even Amber Davies only received one 40 out of her three dances, and Karen got two – but they were actually deserved.

George gave his best performances of the entire series but was ultimately up against two of the best dancers Strictly has ever seen. Despite George spending most of this series as favourite to win, on the night it became clear that Karen would be this year’s champion.

Her Peaky Blinders-inspired Argentine Tango was mesmerising and repeating her Jive from the very first week was an inspired choice for the final.

She might have the best footwork of anyone we’ve ever seen on Strictly and the victory belonged as much to her partner Carlos Gu who was totally overcome with emotion and adoration for the former England star; it would have felt arguably cruel for the result to swing any other way.

Craig brought a credibility to the final that would otherwise have been lacking.

Without his scores, only one performance of the night wouldn’t have received a perfect 40 which, ironically, was Karen’s frantic and disastrous showdance. Thank god they had three performances each, otherwise the night may have turned out very differently. 

The two weeping stars who really got me on Saturday night were Anton and Craig, both of whom have worked alongside Tess since the very first episode in 2004.

Anton was, of course, a professional dancer who even then had an old-school twinkle in his eye and always seemed poised for his eventual seat on the judging panel in 2021, after earning the honour of being the show’s longest-running dancer.

But the only face who appeared in the very first episode of Strictly in the same position – and who will, hopefully, be a huge part of its future too – is Craig.

It was a different world when the show launched 21 years ago. The public was thirsty for blood in reality television, and Simon Cowell revelled in providing it. The #BeKind mantra was almost laughable back then.

Like its then-rival The X Factor, Strictly had to balance being a warm, family-friendly spectacle of camp fun and joy with a hint of nastiness. It needed its own Cowell, and found the perfect fit in Craig.

Over time, though, he has softened. He’s much less of a panto villain and far more human – but no less honest. Saturday night’s final really highlighted the longest-serving judge’s importance for me.

He was the one judge who didn’t get swept away by the buzz of such an emotional and monumental night, and who gave Karen, George and Amber the truth after the most important performances of the series.

Craig is now the most consistent part of Strictly Come Dancing – a show that has impressively weathered many storms of controversy, judging shake-ups and a rotating belt of professional dancers.

It may never feel the same without Tess and Claudia, and I think their absence will require a longer adjustment period than the BBC might recognise.

So, beyond the credibility Craig brings, his familiarity will be vital when the show returns with a completely different feel and two new presenters steering a ship that has, at least in terms of success, enjoyed remarkably smooth sailing for over two decades.

Short of making him head judge, I’m not sure how much more the show could feature him, but I do know he is as crucial as any new hosting team when it comes to taking it forward.

Should Craig leave Strictly too it would be another tremendous blow – leaving the show almost unrecognisable. 

Replacing Tess and Claudia is honestly an impossible job, and whoever takes it on will have to sign themselves up to at least a year or two of convincing long-running Strictly fans they can live up to their predecessors.

In time, hopefully, they’ll get there.

But there cannot be another Craig. 

No one else could balance playing the panto villain while delivering genuinely honest, constructive feedback with such a fab-u-lous flourish. Craig is completely irreplaceable and unique; anyone else attempting his persona would fail to feel relevant and authentic.

Strictly is now the most important cog keeping Strictly turning, and no matter who steers the ship next, he is – for now – the captain, and ought to be a bigger star of the show than he already is.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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