Craig Revel Horwood has been known as Strictly Come Dancing’s meanest judge ever since it began in 2004.
But this year it seems that he's not the show's only pantomime villain because fellow judge Bruno Tonioli has been serving up his own brand of mean.
Last Saturday, he told his co-judge off for one particularly biting comment, saying: “That was nasty, Bruno.”
Is Strictly's Mr Nasty about to be usurped by an even bigger meanie? Here's a round-up some of the most cutting remarks from this series so far…
Carol and Pasha’s Viennese Waltz to I’ve Been Loving You Too Long by Seal
Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “It had the romance of a cleaning session. I mean, you have to put life into a performance… it’s all kind of blandish.”
Craig: “I can see that you’re trying. I can see some light, darling, at the end of the tunnel. Well done.”
Verdict: Bruno
Ainsley and Natalie’s Jive to Shake, Rattle And Roll by Bill Haley And His Comets
Ainsley Harriott and Natalie Lowe (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “There was plenty of shaking there, so much shaking that it made it almost curdle. You make me laugh. It is a very individual version of the Jive… but the timing was a bit better.”
Craig: “It does need to be more technical at this point. You really need to start thinking seriously about that. Flat footed, heavy… Everything was haphazard. I didn’t enjoy it, unfortunately.”
Verdict: Craig
Katie and Anton’s Salsa to It Had Better Be Tonight by Michael Buble
Katie Derham and Anton Du Beke (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “Darling I’m shocked and appalled, because I thought you were such a nice lady. You were throwing yourself around like a wild kitten… You went for it, but then you lost the timing.”
Craig: “There was absolutely no figure eight going on whatsoever through the forward and back basic, which is basic… That sadly was just a shimmy and a dreadful, dreadful salsa, sorry.”
Verdict: Craig
Jeremy and Karen’s Jive to Splish Splash by Bobby Darin
Jeremy Vine and Karen Clifton (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “You’re like one of these off-the-wall artists, that in spite of questionable technique, always manages to put together these works that are so peculiar, so unforgettable.”
Craig: “I’ll be honest, darling, it was like watching a stork that had been struck by lightning.”
Verdict: Craig
Daniel and Kristina’s American Smooth to Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra
Daniel O’Donnell and Kristina Rihanoff (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “I’m still waiting for the upgrade to first class, Daniel. It was premium economy.”
Craig: “It was lacking in an enormous amount of style… You have what is great – musicality – on your side… You need to take more risks.”
Verdict: Bruno
Kirsty and Brendan’s Paso Doble to Beautiful Day by U2
Kirsty Gallacher and Brendan Cole (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “You’re beautiful and deadly, you’re a Paso murderess. You went for the kill and I liked that, but in the process you destroyed the shaping.”
Craig: “It had as much shape as a broomstick… I can see you were really really trying and I appreciate that, darling.”
Verdict: Craig
Anthony and Oti’s Paso Doble to Eye Of The Tiger from Rocky III
Anthony Ogogo and Oti Mabuse (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “I’m going to be very rough with you, because you’re fit, you’re young, you should apply yourself. That was a mish-mash of martial arts. Uh-oh-ah-uh! You’ve got to have artistry when you dance… it was all over the place.”
Craig: Every effort, I can appreciate, is being made. It still lacks shaping… It was more, I think, a stampede rather than a sweep.”
Verdict: Bruno
Carol and Pasha’s Quickstep to I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair from South Pacific
Carol Kirkwood and Pasha Kovalev (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “It wasn’t quite a tropical heatwave, was it, darling? More like a lukewarm breeze. Quickstep is like running on hot coals – you looked like you were shuffling on damp sand.”
Craig: “Lame and very lack-lustre, I’m afraid darling.”
Verdict: Bruno
Jeremy and Karen’s Charleston to Top Hat, White Tie And Tails from Top Hat
Jeremy Vine and Karen Clifton (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “You’ve become the king of funny walks.. an unexpected delight.”
Craig: “It was bizarre, darling. I felt like you were being operated by strings.”
Verdict: Craig
Iwan and Ola’s Cha Cha Cha to Sexy And I Know It by LMFAO
Ola Jordan and Iwan Thomas (Guy Levy/BBC)
Bruno: “You went to the Neanderthal approach to the Cha Cha Cha. You smashed it to the point of distinction… That was like murder. You cannot murder the Cha Cha Cha, you have to dance it. I appreciate the effort.”
Craig: “21 and a half hours’ training wasted.”
Verdict: Craig
So who’s the meanest?
Overall, Craig still narrowly beats Bruno to the title of the meanest judge on Strictly. The outlandish Italian may have upped his cattiness levels, but he’s still an apprentice to the master of snarky put-downs. Craig 6: Bruno 4.
