Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has launched an attack on show contestant Patsy Palmer, describing her as "a scrubber in a puffa jacket."

"She claimed the judges didn't have any dancing experience when we're all ex-professionals," he explained. "All she had to do was look at the internet to see my CV."

Horwood, 38, hit back, saying: "I was furious, I shouldn't have to defend myself to a two-bit actress off a second-rate soap."

The former choreographer continued: "Although, she has scrubbed up quite well on the show for a scrubber in a puffa jacket who cries all the time."

He also hit out at competing reality show The X Factor, which has recently beaten Come Dancing's audience figures. "It's all staged and scripted," claims Horwood. "The judges make the headlines because the contestants aren't interesting."