Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood predicts Tilly Ramsey will 'FALL IN LOVE' with 'hot' Nikita Kuzmin... while branding and Nina Wadia 'mumsy' and AJ Odudu 'WOODEN'

Craig Revel Horwood has made a slew off observations about this year's Strictly Come Dancing contestants, off the back of Saturday's launch show.

Telling all to The Mirror, Craig, 56, commented on Gordon Ramsay's daughter Tilly, and her pro partner Nikita Kuzmin.

'Nikita is hot, hot, hot. Tilly might fall in love! They look great together,' Craig predicted. 'I would love to see Gordon Ramsay on here and having his daughter is the best, best thing. She looks keen and I can’t wait to see her personality...'

He was less gushing about the likes of AJ Odudu and pro Kai Widdrington.

'Her dancing is a little wooden and careful. She needs to loosen up just ever so slightly,' he said, before adding: 'She has a fantastic body. She just needs to get her hips going. They are a little stiff at the moment. Kai mustn’t be too soft with her.'

Of actress Nina Wadia and pro Neil Jones, Craig remarked: 'Nina has that mumsy thing going on. I think a lot of viewers will think: “Oh, that could be me dancing up there.”

'She is really throwing herself in. Technically there’s a lot to do, but she will just go with it. I think she’ll have a tough time.'

Craig is back on the panel alongside Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas, with former pro Anton Du Beke joining them this year. 

The show was plunged into a 'no jab, no jive' row on Saturday over the refusal of two of its dancers to be vaccinated.

Leading figures from the worlds of medicine and entertainment urged the professionals to 'reconsider their positions' as the row threatened to overshadow Saturday night's opening show of the new series.

One unnamed professional dancer is already isolating after a positive Covid-19 test, with reports that their celebrity partner might be paired with another dancer.

There are fears an outbreak could jeopardise the BBC's flagship show, which is set to welcome back hundreds of people into its studio audience.

A source said: 'The dancers who won't get vaccinated have been a topic of conversation with cast and crew for weeks – even before the positive test.'

Fifteen celebrities have been paired with professionals, with the line-up featuring the first all-male pairing and first deaf contestant. 

Eighteen professional dancers have been chosen for the latest series.

It is unclear if the two unnamed and unvaccinated individuals are among those vying for the glitterball.