Craig Revel Horwood enters race for Christmas number one with new single: ‘I could make history with this’

Craig’s going Christmassy (Picture: Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/Rex)

Hold on to your glitter balls because Craig Revel Horwood is releasing a Christmas single.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge has insisted chart heavyweights like Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John ‘have no chance’ at festive success against his own track, It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas!, but he doesn’t care if people don’t like it.

He told The Mirror: ‘Ed Sheeran and Elton John have no chance next to my single. It’s going to be a number one.

‘It’s something people can dance to, and we all want a bit of cheering up this Christmas.

‘I think it will be judged as out of character for Craig Revel Horwood from the TV. But I’m a trained singer and performer, which people forget. If they don’t like it, they can lump it.’

It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas! will premiere on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 show on December 2, with a music video dropping the same day.

Craig Revel Horwood and Rietta Austin sing on the Christmas record (Picture: Carsten Windhorst)

Craig is popular as the ‘mean’ judge on hit show Strictly Come Dancing (Picture: PA)

Alongside his 19 series on Strictly and directorial credits, Craig started his career as a performer in musical theatre and has appeared in many West End musicals, including Miss Saigon, Annie and Crazy For You, and has also become a popular pantomime dame.

Living up to his ‘Mr Nasty’ TV persona, the 56-year-old star also branded Sir Cliff Richard’s festive classic Mistletoe and Wine a ‘dirge’ compared to his ‘cheery’ tune, which is an upbeat jive that will ‘get everyone dancing’.

He added: ‘It’s fantastic and timeless. It’s cheery 50s fun, like The Jersey Boys. I could make history with this… I could be like Lady Gaga, performing to sell-out arenas!’

Both fellow Strictly judge Anton Du Beke and Craig’s fiancé Jonathan Myring approve of the track, reportedly labelling it ‘catchy’.

Strictly tour singer and Craig’s best friend Rietta Austin, who is also an actor, comedian and choreographer, appears on the track, which was co-written by the pair and Nik Page.

The artwork for the Christmas number one candidate

With Craig of course branding the single ‘FAB-U-LOUS’ in a statement announcing its upcoming release, Rietta added: ‘Craig and I are so delighted to release our first single. We had so much fun recording it and can’t wait for you to hear it and dance to it!

‘It’s an uplifting toe-tapper, there are jokes, sleigh bells, a killer sax solo and its infectious spirit makes you just want to have a good time.

‘Everything you could ask for during the festive season!’

Craig could also possibly face stiff competition from the act that’s cinched the last three Christmas number ones – LadBaby.

The star, real name Mark Hoyle, has yet to confirm if he has another Christmas release on the way following the success of We Built This City, I Love Sausage Rolls and Don’t Stop Me Eatin’.

Talking to Metro.co.uk, Mark teased: ‘You’ll have to wait and see! Never rule out a sausage roll at Christmas is what I would say.

More: Strictly Come Dancing

‘Look, it’s amazing – there are so many megastars going for it this year, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Mariah Carey of course, Abba, Adele has got a new album.

‘If we can find a way to raise more money for the Trussell Trust this year and if we can find a way to make it bigger and compete against such megastars, then you never know.’

It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas! is out December 2.

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