Strictly: Craig reacts to Amanda Abbington allegations
Much-loved BBC series Strictly Come Dancing has dominated the headlines of late following Amanda Abbington's accusation against Giovanni Pernice - who is yet to be confirmed to return - and Graziano Di Prima's exit due to his treatment of Zara McDermott.
Speaking on This Morning on Friday, Craig Revel Horwood was quizzed about the scandal that has rocked the show, revealing he was taken by surprise.
Host Craig Doyle asked: "It's been a huge story, it's the nation's favourite Saturday night show. Your view on it. How much did you know?"
"I knew nothing," Craig replied. "The judges are very separate, when the story erupted and came out in the press, I was shocked, as were all the other judges.
"I couldn't quite believe it because we meet the pros and meet the celebs on occasion throughout the show but we're very separate, for very obvious reasons, we shouldn't be talking to them - we take that part of it very seriously.
"We have nothing to do whatsoever with their training or how they get there to that point on Saturday night. We don't even see the camera rehearsals on the Friday so literally come in on the Saturday and judge what we see and it's done.
"I just want the investigation to be over so I can find out myself the truth because I have nothing really to say. You know it's really hard to pass judgement on 'he said this and she said that'.
"It's really difficult and it has erupted and of course I've watched the Amanda tape and all that sort of stuff and I'm just blown away by the whole situation."
Craig's comments on This Morning come just a day after he addressed the scandal on BBC Breakfast where he told hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty: "I was completely gobsmacked by the whole thing. And of course, I found out with the press, because the judges are all kept very separate from all the participants and all the pros, and the only time we ever see each other is when we're impulsively going to the studio.
"You don't really get an opportunity to know what happens in the rehearsal room, and that's not part of our job."
The Strictly Come Dancing celebrity line-up is yet to be confirmed for the 2024 series but is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans are still anxiously waiting to hear if Giovanni will return along with the professional dancers already confirmed.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024 returns to BBC One later this year.
