Strictly judge Craig Revel-Horwood to have second hip operation after debilitating health battle

Strictly Come Dancing's famously controversial judge is set to have a second hip operation this week, after suffering from the debilitating pain of his injury for some time now.

Craig Revel Horwood's spokesperson confirmed to Hello!recently that the 53-year-old would be going in for surgery imminently, after putting off the operation for months due to work commitments.

They told the publication, "He is indeed having his second hip replacement operation this week."

Previously, his spokesperson confirmed that he had put the procedure on hold, in order to complete his busy schedule of Strictly's live shows, theatre productions, and Strictly arena tours. The judge has also recently returned from a Strictly-inspired cruise. So he's certainly been busy!

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The spokesperson previously said, "We can confirm that Craig is planning to have his hip replacement operation next year once he has completed his work commitments on Strictly, Annie, pantomime and the Strictly live tour."

Craig, also a dancer and choreographer, first discussed his health issues in 2013 - so it's clearly been an ongoing battle for the star.

Revealing how he got the injury, he explained how he was performing a lift in a production of Snow White he was starring in.

He said, "I suddenly felt an enormously sharp pain in my right hip, which spread down to my knee and up to my back. I thought I had pulled a ligament in my groin.

"I spent the rest of the panto run on extremely strong painkillers, lots of massage and physio and changed my high heels to lower ones. But it didn't get any better. I couldn't understand it."

After eventually heading to see a professional, Craig was told that he was suffering from severe osteoarthiritis. He was then also told that he would require a hip replacement, but in the end, only ended up having a hip resurfacing - to reline the damaged surfaces of the joint.

Craig wowed audiences after his first hip surgery, returning to his seat on the Strictly judging panel just a week after it had taken place.

But although the Strictly judge appeared to be on the mend back then, it seems that the area is still causing him a huge amount of pain - hence the need for a second, actual hip replacement.

We're wishing Craig a speedy recovery. And we're also keeping our fingers crossed that he's feeling strong enough to return to Strictly Come Dancing again this year!