Craig Revel Horwood, a judge on the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing, has recounted an experience of being attacked and robbed while on holiday in Madrid when he was 23 years old. Speaking on his Judgemental podcast alongside fellow judge Anton Du Beke, Horwood detailed how he was assaulted with a razor blade and had his jewellery stolen during the incident.

Horwood described the attack occurring late at night after leaving a club in Madrid around 2 a.m. According to Horwood, the assailants ripped a necklace from his neck, leaving burn marks, and slashed him with a razor blade across his stomach. Reflecting on the event, he noted the intense heat in the city during that period. He also mentioned that the holiday had followed a performance at the Lido cabaret in Paris.

Upon returning from the trip, Horwood recounted undergoing a strip search by French authorities. He described being searched thoroughly due to suspicions of carrying drugs. At the time, he said he appeared disheveled, having not shaved and still bearing the physical marks from the attack.

Horwood’s account provides insight into a traumatic episode early in his life, highlighting the challenges he faced while travelling abroad. The judge has previously spoken openly about personal hardships, and this recollection adds to the broader picture of his past experiences.