Annie, Congress Theatre, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, Monday, August 10, to Saturday, August 15

To most, Craig Revel Horwood is best known for his harsh scores and biting comments as a judge on popular television dance programme Strictly Come Dancing.

He is altogether less renowned for his long career in directing, acting and choreographing. However the 50 year-old – currently starring as the toxic Miss Hannigan in a production of Annie that rolls into Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre next week – reckons his upbringing in the dance and stage world is linked to his feisty screen persona.

“I studied classical ballet, and I have the kind of background that means I know what I’m talking about on Strictly,” says Horwood, who doesn’t want to talk about the potential government cuts to the BBC and, by extension, the danger to Strictly Come Dancing. “Contestants who aren’t used to being criticised can get a little bit emotional, but I don’t really care about what they think – I just tell them what’s wrong with them so they can improve. That might be taken badly sometimes, but that’s what it is. I’ve been criticised all my life.”

Even now, as a respected and celebrated director of musical theatre – his production of Fiddler on the Roof, to name just one, earned rave reviews two years ago – Horwood is subject to the everyday criticism of Annie’s crew, who are seeking to ensure that the performances of much-loved songs like Tomorrow and It’s a Hard Knock Life are as tight as possible. This, he says, is all part of the learning curve for any performer.

“Nick Winston did the choreography and Nikolai Foster is the director, and I really welcome their criticism. I love it. On Strictly I give people pointers so they can improve the next week, and in the same sense I’m more than happy for choreographers and directors to tell me what they think of my performance.”

And what about audiences? Is there a certain pressure that comes with being judged by the same public who have watch Horwood judge others every week?

“I’ve been judging for 11 years now, so I think it’s rather nice that people get to judge me. I’ve put myself on the line, money to mouth and all that.”

If Strictly’s Horwood can be cutting, then his character in Annie, the malevolent orphanage owner Miss Hannigan, is several notches up on the Villain meter. Horwood considers “villains to be much more interesting than heroes,” and that level of intrigue is increased by the actor’s cross-dressing role. It’s a playful character package that evidently delights Horwood.

“I’m loving playing her – of course she’s either drunk or hungover, which is a laugh. I never thought I’d play a woman for real – I thought if I was going to do drag it would have to be comedy or stand-up. But I’ve done it, and it’s a real thrill to go back to Shakespearian days when men could play woman and vice versa.”

Before Annie, Horwood hadn’t “properly acted” in 20 years. Despite a consistently hectic schedule (he reels off to me his itinerary for the next three years no less), performing on stage had played second fiddle to his television and directing work. Now though, he’s finding pleasure in losing himself every night on the boards.

“I’ve done panto recently but I can be Craig Revel Horwood in panto, and answer the audience back. With acting though, if I get wolf whistles and people shouting numbers from one to ten in the crowd I can’t react to it! It is quite tempting, but I think people really believe in my character and separate it from me.”

Whilst the towering Miss Hannigan scares the life out of Annie’s orphanage companions and indeed the eponymous girl herself, the man behind in the costume is full of compliments for the three young girls, Madeleine Haynes, Isabella Papas and Sophia Pettit, who alternately play Annie. “They’re all incredible actors,” he gushes. “The kids, you just can’t believe it…they’re all so grown-up in a way, so professional.”

With all seeming to be running smoothly as the production moves across the country, I wonder finally if the sharp-tongued television personality takes note of, or even gets nervous about, critical reviews.

“I’ll definitely have a look at them, for sure,” replies Harwood. “Let them come, let them complain!”

Starts 7.30pm, 2.30pm matinees Thurs and Sat, tickets from £18.50. Call 01323 412000.