Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood recently shared a shocking account of his holiday in Spain that took a harrowing turn. The 61-year-old performer revealed that he was stabbed while enjoying a night out in Madrid, an incident that not only left him injured but also resulted in the theft of his jewellery. To add insult to injury, Revel Horwood faced a strip search upon returning to his home country, as authorities suspected he might be carrying drugs.
A Night to Forget in Madrid
Speaking candidly on his podcast, Judgemental, co-hosted with fellow Strictly judge Anton Du Beke, Revel Horwood recounted the terrifying experience. “I went on holiday in Madrid and got stabbed, that was nice, and it was stinking hot,” he remarked, highlighting the surreal nature of the ordeal. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. after a night out at a club, during which a thief used a razor blade to slash him on the stomach and steal his necklace.
“I remember dancing at the Lido in Paris before heading to Madrid for a holiday, and it ended up pretty bad,” he lamented. The attack left him with visible burn marks on his neck, a grim reminder of the violent encounter.
From Tragedy to Travesty
Upon returning to the UK, Revel Horwood faced yet another indignity. “I hadn’t shaved, so I did look a bit of a wreck,” he shared. “Then the French strip searched me down to literally nothing… they were looking for drugs.” This added layer of humiliation only compounded the horror of his earlier experience, as he navigated the distressing aftermath of the attack.
The Strictly judge’s misadventures didn’t end there. He also recounted a disastrous trip to Mombasa, Kenya, where he arrived to find that his hotel had burnt down. “I thought, ‘oh yeah, I’m going on safari, that’s going to be nice’,” he recalled. However, upon landing, he was informed that his accommodation had been reduced to ashes, an unfortunate surprise that no one had bothered to communicate before his arrival.
A Cruel Twist of Fate
Despite the initial setback in Mombasa, Revel Horwood was reassigned to another hotel and even enjoyed a romantic cruise down the River Nile. However, his luck took another turn for the worse when illness struck his group. “One by one, people were falling to the ground, literally dropping,” he said of the chaotic scene at the airport. The illness was later diagnosed as salmonella poisoning, stemming from undercooked chicken consumed the night before.
Why it Matters
Craig Revel Horwood’s alarming experiences during what should have been a relaxing holiday serve as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of travel. His ordeal not only highlights the potential dangers that can lurk during seemingly carefree outings but also underscores the importance of vigilance and preparedness when venturing abroad. As the world gradually opens up for travel, stories like Revel Horwood’s resonate with many, reminding us to remain aware and cautious even in the most enjoyable of circumstances.