All Balls and Glitter

by Craig Revel Horwood

As the most outspoken judge on Strictly Come Dancing, Craig Revel Horwood is no stranger to controversy and is notorious for his cutting put-downs and often brutal honesty. In "All Balls and Glitter", Craig turns the spotlight on himself and is at his most candid yet. Craig tells his remarkable life story, beginning with his childhood in Australia, and spills the secrets of his celebrity encounters.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, LGBT, Adult

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Craig Revel Horwood is an Australian-British dancer, choreographer and theatre director in the United Kingdom. He is a patron of the National Osteoporosis Society. He is best known as a judge on the BBC dancing show Strictly Come Dancing. He published his autobiography in 2008.

Reviews

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Strictly Come Dancing - the original Celebrity/Pro dance programme, I knew and loved Craig. I read this wondering whether Craig would have an interesting enough life to relate. I was unprepared for how fabulously honest and entertaining his autobiography would be. Craig writes with humour and sensitivity as he describes growing up, being bullied and finding his passion in life. Definitely worth a read!

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it was gripping, I have to deduct a few stars for the outdated language that could be potentially harmful to some.

[june mackin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really interested in what goes on with people who are judges in the show and I wanted to understand them more

was really interested in what goes on with people who are judges in the show and I wanted to understand them more

[Angela Free · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't help but feel endeared to Craig. He may be known as the Mr Nasty judge because of his comments when judging the Strictly contestants, but he really isn't nasty at all. He's simply honest, a trait he should be proud of. Well, I think so anyway. I think he's fabulous. He'd definitely be on my list of people I'd love to throw a dinner party for, he has such interesting stories to share.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this - I'm very glad I now know more about my favourite TV villain!! My only complaint is that I found it quite slow, but I think that is due to the fact that I've been reading other books at the same time!

[Kym Hamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads like it's actually been written by Horwood which makes a lot of fun to read. It did finish quite abruptly though which is why I gave it only 3 stars instead of the 4 I'd been intending.

[Elizabeth Blyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good

It started off really good and picked up pace really well and I could follow Craig’s life quite well from one moment to the next. I am a musical theatre fan and an avid Strictly watcher so enjoyed all of the anecdotes about his life being a strictly judge and his life in the musical theatre industry.

The Bad

I found the varying chapter lengths challenging at times and I think I prefer a hard back memoir in comparison to a paperback one but that doesn’t take away from the story. I personally wasn’t wowed and I have read better memoirs/autobiographies

The Ugly

I got bored towards the end I think this had a lot to do with the varying chapters lengths and the fact that I just lost interest in the book overall.

[Tanis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I wanted to love but didn't really.

I do like CRH, he seems like a lot of fun and is clearly talented but somehow this book gets very dull and repetitive and manages to lose a lot of his charm. It is very interesting about his early life, but it gets a bit list-like with the career and personal life stuff.

Did find the bit right at the end about John Sargent quite gratifying, I read his biography some time ago and he didn't come across at all well.

Oddly, my copy had lots of strange text around the photo section with captions missing or incomplete. It isn't a proof so I guess I must have got hold of one of dud batch, maybe I picked it up at a remainder shop.

[Pamela Bradley-Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab-u-lous

I really enjoyed reading this book,; how there is such a sensitive man that works like a trooper and has such a widespread experience of entertainment as a whole not just dance. Producing, writing, dancing, singing, living life in general. I now move on to his other books.

[Wenonah Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest as His Judging

I love Strictly and Craig is my favourite judge. I knew he was a choreographer and dancer, but didn’t realise how much else he had done. His description of Oz, growing, the dance world, Strictly, are as apt and honest as his dance judging. He’s very nice and not nasty at all😀

[Darla Ebert · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author's early life story was tragic and heart-rending. Alcoholism in a parent changes a child forever and this is heartbreaking. Alhough Mr. Horwood is a fun-loving person, there is an obvious underlying melancholy to his story.
There is an amateurish flavor to the writing of the book (overuse of the words "tons" "lots" "loads" for example). It is not an awful sin but distracting.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book, read it in three days.

[Juliaoak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Dawn Fassam]

Enjoyed the read. Changed my view of Craig.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous book

This is an absolute scream of a biography. Although I have started in the middle of Craig's biography as read the 22nd 1st

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to learn his background but too much monotonous listing of productions undertaken.

[Michelle Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great autobiography. It was full of gossip and scandal as promised. It didn’t disappoint and I’m looking forward to reading more from Craig!

[Petrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I desperately wanted to like Craig more as a result of reading this but I just couldn’t. The writing’s all over the place and all the narrative comes across as bragging. One for the charity shop.

[Noel · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting read wasnt keen on him but he does a lot for charity

[Theresa Dudley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
really enjoyed it. totally honest account of his life. fast paced. has packed alot into his life. Complete respect to the man.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant and entertaining i loved it all. i definitely recommend and its available on libby aswell.

[Skyler Broadhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge Strictly fan and have always found Craig a bit of a mystery. It was interesting to read about his upbringing in Australia and what got him into show business. I think people who read this will be presently surprised among other things, Craig is actually a really nice guy!

[Syrdarya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea who Craig Revel Horwood was before this book was nominated for the DS Book Club. I had never watched Strictly Come Dancing (UK) or the American equivalent, Dancing With the Stars. I've never been into musicals, although occasionally I like a song from one of them and I do recognize many of the names. So, all things considered, this book should have been a real slog to finish, right? Wrong! It was fun and mostly quite interesting. Horwood's childhood in Australia was quite interesting because it was so very different from anything I experienced. He was a late bloomer who finally came to dance as his profession, and he worked extremely hard to get where he is today.

The book is filled with wild and funny stories. There are parts that could use more detail or polishing, and because I was unfamiliar with many of the celebs he encountered on Strictly Come Dancing and the controversies that have cropped up on that show, I had to do a little research on my own, but I enjoyed this book and found it to be the sort of light read that is easy to pick up in a spare moment.

[Laura of Lurking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I has only been aware of Craig as a judge on strictly come dancing prior to picking up this book. I was in the "love to hate and boo as loudly as possible camp", so this frank and very touching autobiography of the trials and rewards in his life really surprised me in how much it hit home.

I admit going into reading this book I had many assumptions, not all of them positive of his lifestyle (although I support his sexuality, wherever it may lie, all the way). Many of those were destroyed and I saw the three dimensional real man stood behind them. I have much greater respect for him now - even if my camp on his strictly comments has not changed.

I would recommend this book not just to fans of the show or his work, but people who like stories of overcoming adversity and getting back up no matter how many time you get knocked down.

I will also now be looking for some of his work to watch as an extension of what I learnt reading this.

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of his upbringing and professional background was interesting, and was what aroused my curiosity. However it's interminably intertwined with the more salacious stuff. I can see why it was described as racy on the cover. It's rude enough to shock your Nan, but not enough to offend her. In the end, it's all a bit too laborious and luvvie.

[Patricia Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light pleasant read - frank and interesting insight into Craig's past both personal and professional. Always outspoken but always honest, he tells stories of his colourful past. Some are tragic, some happy, but this book gives a very real insight into what makes the man tick.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old bio now finished in 2008 when Arlene Philips was still a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. What can I say? It was a very cheap read for the Kindle!

Really it was a 2.5* read but generously I gave it 3*

Interesting but not fascinating.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

So true to himself

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good.

[Ashlyn L]

A fun read from someone who has had a very exciting life.