Craig Revel Horwood - In Strictest Confidence

My heartfelt thanks go to the following people for helping to make this book possible.

Alison Maloney, for her delicious ghosting skills, endless wonderful meetings over a glass or two of savvy B at various glamorous locations around London and at my country retreat over the very hot summer of 2018.

Susan Lee Mason, my incredibly talented older and wiser sister who provided additional material and did some wicked editing for me.

My mum, for always being honest with me and her love.

My family for putting up with me and their unconditional love and support.

My adorable partner Jonathan.

My incredible friends and personal confidants that have helped me through the bad times and provided much needed support and entertainment throughout my life.

All my gorgeous Strictly family, for without whom, none of this would be possible.

The BBC for continuing my employment.

All my wonderful and generous theatre family whom I respect not only for their obligations to their talents, but theiramazing loyalty, devotion and commitment to the performing arts.

Michael OMara books for having faith in me, Louise Dixon and Gabby Nemeth for their editing skills and everyone in their extremely talented team that helped put the whole book together, from the lawyer to the typesetter.

All the valiant, fearless and courageous celebrities Ive criticised over the years.

The press for being kind this year.

My heartfelt thanks to the talented people below who performed at my 50th birthday parties:

The UK band and cabaret at Caf de Paris:

DJs:

Daniel McLeod DJ

Nick Meier DJ

Starstruck:

Rietta Austin Vocalist and MD

Verna Francis Vocalist

Melone MKenzy Vocalist

Odette Adams Vocalist

Tee Green Vocalist

Kevin Leo Vocalist

Shaun Anthony Vocalist

Andy McSkimming Vocalist

Robert Skins Anderson Percussion

Tom Walker Guitar

Winston Blissett Bass

Carl Hudson Keyboards

Simon Bates Saxophone

Henry Collins Trumpet

Julian Chambers Drums

Cabaret:

Rietta Austin Vocalist/Choreographer

Alison Jiear Vocalist

Marcos White Dancer

Myles Brown Dancer

Hot Gussett Cabaret Show

Val Kelly Photography

The Australian band at Fort Denison:

The Rietta Austin Band:

Rietta Austin Vocalist

Barbara Griffin Keyboards and vocals

Matt Roberts Guitar and vocals

Chris Frazier Bass

Greg Ohlback Drums

Fiona Leigh Jones Percussion and vocals

Last but certainly not least, thank you to the amazing fans who put me where I am today.

Also by Craig Revel Horwood:

All Balls and Glitter

Tales from the Dance Floor

A s the 2014 Strictly season got going, I was experiencing the gruelling process of moving house. Since coming to the UK thirty years ago, I had lived in a listed two-up two-down in Camden Town. The London street I lived in has a line of pretty pastel facades and, to no ones surprise, my place was a gorgeous shade of pink. I loved the history of the house, and to have something I could call my own was beyond fabulous. Over the years I lived there, I made a close-knit group of friends that I still spend time with today. It was so special having them live so close. They could just pop in anytime. These friends were, and still are, my village of support; the fact that they were so accessible was the main reason that I stayed in my little London home for so many years.

In the early days, Camden was a fairly rough area that attracted more than its fair share of unsavoury characters, which is possibly why it was affordable to me at the time. But things that I would normally take in my stride were starting to wear me down in my advancing years. Vagrants were alwaysurinating on my doorstep. I even interrupted one distinguished gentleman as he relieved himself. I was wearing my Prada shoes at the time, and they didnt fare well with what seemed like ten pints of lager splashed across them. Another very bleak night, a homeless fellow actually defecated in the same spot not on my Prada shoes, thank God, but he left a nice steaming message on my welcome mat! To my horror, I caught that little gem on CCTV camera and, no matter how much one tries, one cannot unsee something like that. I was also witness to the never-ending zombie parade of heroin addicts as they walked past my front window on their way up from Kings Cross. The writing was definitely on the wall for a change.

As the big five-oh was fast approaching, I found the noise and hustle and bustle of inner-city life tiring, and I started to yearn for something a little more tranquil and serene.

As if those reasons werent enough, there were other incentives for moving. Members of my increasingly large family in Australia are often visiting and I want to encourage them to do so. With nieces and nephews reaching gap-year age now being added to the mix, I want to provide a home away from home for them. Staying with me also saves them the cost of finding accommodation in London, which is very expensive.

Putting up guests was always a challenge in Camden, as my terraced house only had 1.5 bedrooms and the big one was mine! I wasnt going to part with my master suite and little cupboard en suite for anyone. The small room was the only other place to sleep, and that had been cut in half to make room for my ensuite. It also housed a wardrobe that was heaving with my glitzy suitsand, three days a week, the room had to double up as the office for my PA, Clare. It had a small sofa bed but when that was folded out guests couldnt even open a suitcase in the room, let alone get around it to sit at the desk.

As she got older, Mum was finding it especially difficult. On her visits, she likes to be able to open her suitcase, unpack completely and put everything away in drawers and a wardrobe. No chance of that happening in Camden. Every morning I would put the sofa bed back to its sofa position, set her suitcase on the sofa where she would take out what she needed for the day, then put the suitcase back in the cupboard and hope to God that Mum didnt need anything else later that day. Every day for six weeks! To add another layer of complexity, guests usually dont visit in singles, they come in pairs or groups, which added significantly to the logistical dilemmas. I remember that while my niece Isabelle was studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, she had to move out of her room one night to make way for some more mature guests. She slept peacefully outside, on the outdoor sofa on my rooftop terrace! Luckily, it was summer in London at the time.

Back then, I wouldnt have had it any other way, though. I love being surrounded by people and offering them my hospitality. We had our challenges fitting into that little house but we are still on speaking terms and thats all that matters.

Another reason that Camden wasnt working for me then is that I am a born entertainer and love nothing more than rustling up a dirty big spag bol or curry for over twenty people at a time. The kitchen wasnt large enough for me to cater for crowds likethat. I longed for the day I had a serving space to dish up special menus plate by plate, rather than a buffet style where people pick up their plates and serve themselves. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I was reaching an age where I wanted to explore more fancy culinary pursuits.

Prepping in the Camden kitchen was like working in a caravan and I became an expert in whipping up crowd pleasers in a very small space. I had knocked a wall out to fit in a dining table but lets just say it was still very cosy entertaining in my little two-up two-down.

Like myself, my pink house was also showing signs of wear and tear and needed a serious injection of funds to bring it back to its former glory. I had plans to build an extension, but there is only so much one can do before you start to overcapitalize. The heritage listing made it impossible to add another bedroom, which was what I most sorely needed, so that wasnt an option.