Strictly judge hoping to fill Simon Cowell's shoes as Mr. Nasty

Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood is hoping to fill Simon Cowell's shoes as TV's Mr. Nasty.

The famously harsh-tongued judge is hoping the expected departure of the 'X Factor' boss to launch the ITV1 show Stateside could help to boost ratings for 'Strictly' and pave the way for the BBC One celebrity dancing competition to take the Saturday night top spot.

He said: "Simon leaving 'The X Factor' will put a dampener on it. Who's going to replace him? It will potentially give us an advantage.

"They're going to need a leading figure from the music world to take his place."

However, the 46-year-old star laughed off recent suggestions from fellow judge Alesha Dixon that 'The Fear' singer Lily Allen and Girls Aloud beauty Kimberley Walsh could help to spruce up the 'Strictly Come Dancing' panel.

Craig added to the Daily Star newspaper: "Firstly, Lily Allen - what's she going to bring to the panel? And I don't even know who Kimberley Walsh is?"