Remember how much Craig Revel Horwood grovelled to Stacey Dooley after his catty remarks about her relationship with Kevin Clifton? Well, it appears he’s had a change of heart since issuing the apology. 

The Strictly Come Dancing judge has somewhat backtracked after previously claiming he’d been “hurtful, cruel and incredibly disrespectful” towards the documentary presenter, hinting it was the BBC that apologised on his behalf. 

Craig landed himself in hot water at the recording of this year’s launch show earlier this month, when reigning champions Stacey and Kevin returned to perform a victory dance. 

After they had finished, Craig made reference to the fact the pair had since begun a relationship, joking: “Stacey was dragged up from the dance gutter. Of course, if you sleep with your dance partner that helps.”

Now speaking to New! magazine about the furore, Craig admitted he still thinks the comment was funny – despite the very public apology that followed.  

“Did I (say sorry) or was that the BBC?” he said. “Oh yes I did. It was very grovel-ly. It doesn’t even sound like me. You’d think I’d done something really out of order.”

He continued: “A jokey remark was treated like it was the start of World War Three. I guess if some people are quite sensitive then they need the apology. So I just apologised, it’s quite simple.

“I thought it was quite funny, but it wasn’t taken that way.”

The comments were later edited out of the pre-recorded launch show, with Craig later telling The Sun: “I’m deeply sorry for the offence caused to Kevin and Stacey and everyone who works on the show.

“I recognise that what I said was hurtful, cruel and incredibly disrespectful. It was a huge error of judgment that I very much regret.”

However, he’s now said he “doesn’t intend to change” and “will be sacked” before he does, adding: “Where is the laughter? Everyone’s so scared of saying the wrong thing, there’s no edge anymore.”

A Strictly spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by HuffPost UK. 

This echoed comments Craig made earlier this week, where he insisted he will never tone down his catty remarks. 

He told The Sun: “Every year I get told to tone it down and I don’t listen. Of course I won’t be toning it down this year.

“I’m going to be just like I’ve been for 16 years. I’m not changing for anyone, if that’s the case I’d rather not judge it. It will never work darling, I’ve got too much of a big mouth.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.40pm on BBC One. The full interview with Craig appears in this week’s New! magazine, on sale now.