HIS barbed comments on hit show Strictly Come Dancing earned him the nickname Mr Nasty.

But Craig Revel-Horwood was all charm when he put a group of budding Gwent actors through their paces.

The TV choreographer visited the players from Congress Youth Theatre during rehearsals for their latest show, Pirates of Penzance.

More than 30 youngsters from Torfaen aged 14 to 20 are taking part in the show. Mr Revel-Horwood, 41, came along to help as a personal friend of the show's director Ken Caswell.

The pair worked together on a string of West End shows and Mr Caswell drafted in his friend to spend a day working on the choreography of the show's grand finale.

He added: "Ken and I are old mates. It's great to come down and see what the kids have been up to."

Mr Revel-Horwood, who is working with Opera North in Leeds, said his reputation as a tough judge on Strictly Come Dancing often went before him.

"People do stop me in the street or on the train and tell me exactly what they think of my judging - sometimes they give me a score!" he said. "But mostly they are very supportive and often say they agree with me.

"I prefer to tell the truth rather than beat around the bush."

Actor and director Mr Caswell, who was born in Cwmbran, spent 15 years as assistant director of Les Miserables on Broadway and various locations across the globe. He now teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Mr Caswell became involved with Congress Youth Theatre after the artistic officer for the Youth Theatre of Torfaen, Rachel Hamilton, asked him to lend a hand with a production of Les Miserables.

"I suggested we did Pirates of Penzance next - I knew the cast had the ability to do it," he said, adding: "I have been absolutely astounded by the talent we have."

The show, which opens on March 15, is a modernised version of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic.