SCD News

I’m gutted – Craig wasn’t fair to me

Says Nicky Byrne

Early exit ... Nicky Byrne

STRICTLY’S Nicky Byrne blames Craig Revel Horwood for his early exit and has sensationally accused the acid-tongued judge of wrongly marking him down.

Westlife star Nicky left the show last night after his samba and foxtrot fusion landed him at the bottom of the leader board with just 27 points.

Craig gave Nicky a lowly five out of ten, while Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli both gave him a seven and Len Goodman awarded him eight.

Now Nicky, who had been in the dance-off before, has accused Craig of singling him out for unfair criticism.

He told TV Biz: “I’m really devastated and disappointed I couldn’t take it any further and get to the semi-final.

“I’m gutted. I watched it myself this morning and I do feel I was undermarked. I gave it 100 per cent every time.”

Nicky really wanted to get as far as the semi-finals but admits this year’s celebrity line-up is the most talented yet.

He said: “It’s a high standard, possibly the toughest year yet.

“I’ve watched previous years and the way I was critiqued was pernickety. I’m not sure everyone has been criticised as badly as that in any other year.

“It just seemed to be just a thing with me, with Craig wanting to critique me like that, and you just smile and get through it and think, ‘He obviously doesn’t rate me as a dancer... ’ ”

Even dance partner Karen Hauer is convinced Craig’s marking was unfair.

Nicky said: “Karen was in tears afterwards. She said, ‘I’m not sure what to say to you. You danced it brilliantly, you couldn’t have danced it better.’

“Karen thought that from the beginning of the series we were undermarked. We’ve never worked out why that was though, but that’s life.”

Strictly partners ... Westlife's Nicky Byrne with professional dancer Karen Hauer

Wenn

Nicky might feel cheated but he isn’t one to sulk about it.

He said: “There are inconsistencies there with Craig saying one thing and the other three saying something else. But you put yourself up there to be judged and you take it on the chin.

“I don’t hold grudges. I never worked out why Craig chose me as the one to go for during the entire series but I made so many nice friends and had so many messages from the public that it’s been positive all the way for me.

“I’ve loved it. Everybody on the show has made friends for life now. Except for Craig, of course.”

The moment Tess Daly announced Nicky was in the bottom two with Denise Van Outen, Nicky knew it was time to get his coat and hang up his dancing shoes.

He said: “Anyone else but Denise, you might have an inkling of a hope that you could have challenged... but unless Denise physically fell over then I knew it was game over. Even then they’d have judged it on what she’s already done.

“If it is a straight dance competition, then Denise should win. I couldn’t have asked for a better send-off because at least I was beaten by the best dancer.”

Denise has come in for flak from Strictly fans who believe her West End experience and stage school training give her an advantage.

But last night Nicky leaped to her defence. He said: “Denise doesn’t deserve any stick, everyone has something.

“I’ve performed in front of thousands and thousands of people for years in Westlife, so has Kimberley in Girls Aloud. Everyone has something to bring to the table.

“It’s not just a dance competition. If it was, Denise would win it because she has had maybe a bit of extra time compared to everybody else. But it’s not that, you’ve got to cope under pressure and learn new dances every single week in a short amount of time.

Harsh ... judge Craig Revel Horwood

“Everybody has their own little positives and negatives — that’s what makes it such a nice variety show.”

While he reckons Denise is the best dancer, Nicky admits he’d like to see Kimberley Walsh lift the glitterball.

He said: “Denise deserves to win. She’s the best dancer by a country mile. But I’d like to see Kimberley win because she’s improved all the way.”

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing has kept viewers hooked and Saturday night’s show saw 12.2million tune in, compared to The X Factor’s 10.3million.

Nicky admits he’s looking forward to mocking former manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh about the thrashing.

He said: “I haven’t seen Louis to tease him about the ratings but as soon as I see him for a beer we’ll have a good chat and have a laugh about it. Louis is never one to avoid a bit of banter.”

Nicky is also thrilled he’s been able to give Simon Cowell a bit of stick, too, as Westlife were signed to the TV mogul’s Syco label.

He said: “I was delighted to be on the show that was the bigger one. Obviously I was signed to Syco records for years so it was nice to get one up on them on the show.”

Nicky is disappointed to be leaving early, but he admitted he won’t miss the humiliation of one particular thing.

He said: “I’ve warmed to the idea of fake tan. But there is nothing worse than standing there in your boxer shorts getting sprayed with a gun. It’s a weird feeling.”

And while his fake tan fades, Nicky is hoping his cuts and bruises will too.

He said: “I’ve got two cuts on each knee from all the knee slides.

“I’ve got bruises from kicks on my shins and I’ve had a few elbows in the face. I feel more like the boxer Ricky Hatton than a ballroom dancer!”