Craig Revel Horwood fought back tears after revealing he thought that his abusive dad would KILL him – and says he lived like a ‘little slave’ in his family home during Tuesday’s episode of Loose Women.

The Strictly judge, 60, opened up about his childhood to Ruth Langsford, 65, Janet Street Porter, 78, Denise Welch, 66, and Kelle Bryan, 50, on the ITV show. 

Craig bravely spoke out about what happened in his family home with his dad Phil, mum Beverley June and his four siblings. 

When asked if he was frightened, Craig said: ‘I thought I’d be killed. 

‘It was real, proper abuse. It was horrible to come home to from school. 

‘It got worse when he left the navy, he was functioning alcoholic for a long time.’

Craig Revel Horwood fights back tears revealing he thought abusive dad would KILL him – and says he lived like a ‘little slave’ in family home

He explained that he was sober for four years while he went to AA, but then it was ‘drinking that killed him in the end.

He went on: ‘It was so bad that he tried to shoot [my mother] and my brother-in-law. He went to prison but only for a short time because mum released the charges.

‘My mother, bless her, did not know what to do. Everyone said, ‘Why didn’t you just leave him?’ but it wasn’t possible at that stage.’

Craig said that of the five children in the family, the eldest three were abused and recounted: ‘We couldn’t bring people home from school – we were too scared.’

When probed on whether he confided in anyone about the abuse, Craig replied: ‘No, I kept his drinking a secret.’

The TV star also couldn’t go to his father’s funeral because of work commitments. 

However he has paid tribute to his dad, who he loves, by singing his favourite song My Way, by Frank Sinatra.  

Last week Craig alleged that he was abused as a child and said that dancing helped him to forget the pain.

The Strictly judge, 60, opened up about his childhood to Ruth Langsford , 65, Janet Street Porter, 78, Denise Welch , 66, and Kelle Bryan , 50, on the ITV show

Craig bravely spoke out about what happened in his family home with his dad Phil, mum Beverley June and his four siblings

Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain this morning, he spoke about his upcoming tour Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing.

He said of the tour: ‘My father was an alcoholic. I do talk about that in the show because that led me towards the dancing.

‘And anyone at home I know that’s watching this that has dealt with alcoholism, it’s really, really tough, and we were abused as children, and my whole family was, and that was my only escape.

‘And when I danced, it’s when I really came to life. I forgot all of the abuse at home, and it made me want to do something else with my life.

‘And on my father’s death, I think that was when I actually realised that, after hating my father for so long, I then thought, actually he was a really good man he just had a terrible, terrible disease and it eventually killed him.’

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood (pictured) has alleged he was abused as a child and said that dancing helped him to forget the pain

Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain this morning, he spoke about his upcoming tour Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing

Read More Craig Revel Horwood doubles down on his savage attack on Strictly judges

Craig’s father Phil — a former Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant — died aged 74 in December 2015.

Craig has previously revealed his father ‘drank himself to death’ and had ‘a blood alcohol level of 400mg per litre’ when he died.

Revel Horwood also responded to comments he made about his fellow Strictly judges during his first show on the tour and explained he was joking when he reportedly said: ‘There is no other judge. I created it. They are either ᴅᴇᴀᴅ or have been sacked.’

Asked about the comments this morning he made during his first show last week, he said: ‘What am I going to say? Who’s the best judge? Of course, I’m going to say, me.

‘I was having a little bit of fun.’

Revel Horwood appears as a judge alongside Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

Reflecting on the 20th anniversary of Strictly in 2024, Horwood said: ‘I’ll tell you why I love it so much, is because every year it’s completely different.

Revel Horwood (pictured) appears as a judge alongside Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke 

‘You change the cast and it’s a completely different show. You don’t know who you’re going to get and you don’t know where they’re going to lay within the realms of dance.

‘And that’s what makes it interesting and exciting. It’s escapism.’

Revel Horwood’s tour follows on from the release of his debut solo album of the same name.

He is due to travel to cities and towns including Bath, Dundee, London, Liverpool and Swansea, ending his show in Dunfermline on June 28.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX