The nation's darling Craig Revel Horwood has revealed his love of Norfolk and his dream Strictly celebrity as he stars in Annie at Norwich Theatre Royal.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge plays the spiteful Miss Hannigan in the UK tour of the hit musical. 

This tour is especially poignant for him as he was originally sharing the role with Paul O'Grady.

Norwich Evening News: Craig Revel Horwood stars as Miss Hannigan in Annie at Norwich Theatre Royal Craig Revel Horwood stars as Miss Hannigan in Annie at Norwich Theatre Royal (Image: Supplied by Norwich Theatre)

After O'Grady's sudden death in March this year, Revel Horwood has taken on some of his late friend's shows, with Jodie Prenger doing the rest. 

READ MORE: The hit West End musicals heading to Norwich in August

Revel Horwood, who had always been scheduled to appear in Norwich, said: "I pay tribute at the beginning of the week in theatres where people had booked to see Paul.

"I love playing Miss Hannigan and so did he - she is drunk or hungover in every scene!"

Norwich Evening News: Craig Revel Horwood stars in Annie at Norwich Theatre Royal Picture: Denise BradleyCraig Revel Horwood stars in Annie at Norwich Theatre Royal Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

The musical is set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression and Annie lives a life of misery at Mr Hannigan's orphanage. 

Her luck looks like it is about to change when she is chosen to spend Christmas with the billionaire Oliver Warbucks, but Miss Hannigan has other ideas. 

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He added: "It is a fantastic story with amazing singing, dancing and acting and the young performers are incredible."

Norwich Evening News: Ellen Siegert, of Crazy Hippo Crochet, gives special gifts to Craig Revel Horwood at Norwich Theatre Royal Picture: Denise BradleyEllen Siegert, of Crazy Hippo Crochet, gives special gifts to Craig Revel Horwood at Norwich Theatre Royal Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

To celebrate the show coming to Norwich, Ellen Siegert, 18, of Crazy Hippo Crochet from Hopton-on-Sea, gifted him two dolls of Miss Hannigan and him on Strictly - complete with scoring panels.  

Revel Horwood recently directed and choreographed the Strictly Ballroom UK tour, which came to Norwich in April 2023. 

Norwich Evening News: Craig Revel Horwood has revealed his love of holidaying in Norfolk Picture: Denise BradleyCraig Revel Horwood has revealed his love of holidaying in Norfolk Picture: Denise Bradley (Image: Newsquest)

He is looking forward to the new series of Strictly and has music mogul Simon Cowell on his bucket list, who he said would be "absolutely fantastic". 

While in Norwich this week, he is staying with a friend and is planning to have a cheese and wine night and visit some local restaurants.

He added: "Norfolk is fabulous, I have hired a boat for two weeks for two summers on the Broads - I live near Peterborough so it is totally in my area." 

Annie runs at Norwich Theatre Royal until August 5.