Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood needs hip replacement surgery

The 48-year-old said he hopes to come back 'bigger, better and stronger'

Criag Revel Horwood has announced he will undergo hip replacement surgery (Getty Images)

All those years of pirouettes and splits have taken their toll on Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

The 48-year-old has revealed he will undergo hip replacement surgery, and joked he is “going to be made of titanium”.

He said the operation was necessary after “years of classical ballet and forcing turn-outs”, which he admitted was “quite detrimental to your body”.

Revel Horwood, who is known for his prickly comments on the Strictly panel, said he planned to come back “bigger, better and stronger” from the surgery.

He told BBC Breakfast: “I’m having a hip replacement and I can’t wait. I’m going to be made of titanium and then I will come back bigger, better and stronger.

“It’s all those years of can-cans and dropping the splits.”

In an interview with presenter Susanna Reid, who will appear as a contestant on this year’s show, he said: “Sportsmen and women need hip replacements. It was all those years of classical ballet and forcing turn-outs. It can be quite detrimental to your body.”

But the judge did not hold back from making a few clipped remarks about Reid’s performance.

After watching a video of the presenter in rehearsal with her partner Kevin Clifton, he said: “That was a bit lame, a bit lacklustre. You know you’ve only got two more days to improve that.”