Craig Revel Horwood: Tell public how many votes Strictly couples receive

The long-time judge on the much-loved BBC show wants viewers to be made aware of how many votes each celebrity and their professional partner receive.

“I only wish they’d make the figures from the phone vote public, to stop talk of it being fixed,” he told the Radio Times, adding: “But if one celeb gets 13 million votes and another gets two, it might not go down well.”

His comments come after accusations in last year’s show that the competition was “fixed” to ensure former shadow chancellor Ed Balls did not reach the final.

Revel Horwood also told the magazine it would have been “wrong” for him to replace head judge Len Goodman as he “would have had to be a smiley mediator which isn’t in my nature”.

On Latin American specialist Shirley Ballas as Goodman’s replacement, he added: “She’s a brilliant dance trainer, although she has been a TV judge only once or twice in America, just as a guest.

“I think she will be great because she has more knowledge than any of the other judges, including me, although telly requires more than that.

“Time will tell. It’s very difficult being succinct, creating one-liners and soundbites.

“It would be tough for anyone. But she’s funny and quick. And she finds me amusing.”

The Australian-born choreographer and director was speaking ahead of an episode of family tree programme, Who Do You Think You Are?

He said: “I’ve always absolutely loved the programme.

“I was gobsmacked when they were interested in me. As I was born in Ballarat, 70 miles north-west of Melbourne, I knew the programme would take me to Australia, but I had no idea my ancestors built Ballarat on money from gold-mining.”

During the filming he discovered his ancestors were British which he said “explains why I’ve always felt so comfortable in this country”.

“My heritage is here and it feels life-changing to know all that.”

:: This week’s Radio Times is out now.