Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Adam Peaty responds to mother's Strictly 'fix' claim and admits he 'doesn't deserve to be there'

Adam Peaty has responded after his mum slammed Strictly Come Dancing as a 'fix'.

Caroline Peaty hit out after the Olympic swimmer was eliminated from the BBC One dance competition on Sunday.

Adam and partner Katya Jones were the sixth couple to leave the hit show after ending up in the dance-off against Tilly Ramsay and her partner Nikita Kuzmin.

Both partnerships had to perform their routines again - a jive to Little Bitty Pretty One by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, and a tango to Kings and Queens by Ava Max for the judges in a bid to impress and remain in the competition.

READ MORE: Strictly's Dan Walker flooded with support after hitting out at those questioning his place one show

But it was Adam, who spent his second week in the dance-off, who was chosen to leave by judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Tilly and Nikita.

Following their exit, Adam's mother Caroline said on Twitter that she was proud of her son, but added: "Total fix and I’m not buying the public vote."

Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Thursday, the 26-year-old sportsman told presenter Charlie Stayt: "I agree with you, mums are always going to support their own.

"She wanted to see me every Saturday night – you know how mums get, bless her.

Adam and Katya were the sixth couple to leave the competition (PA)

"I love her to bits, she loves me to bits. I think she just wanted me to do a paso (doble), that’s all she wanted to see me do… for me, if anyone can lose well it’s me, and everyone in that competition, they are incredible people, and I’m glad I’m out because I don’t deserve to be there.

"Some of the dancers are just… my jaw is dropping and I will always get behind everyone on the show and so, you know what, that’s incredible, that’s different for me because normally I’m on my own and go, you know, ‘You’re not beating me today’, but this is different…"

When asked by co-presenter Naga Munchetty if he had "had words2 with his mother, he said: "Well, yeah… but you know, again, it is the way it is, isn’t it? I don’t want to censor anyone…

Adam was asked about his mum's tweet on BBC Breakfast (BBC)

"She's got her thoughts and I’ve got mine, and my thought is the most important one to me, is that I had the most incredible time and everyone on that show deserves to be there."

Caroline's tweet received a mixed response from Strictly fans with some agreeing with her while others thought she was doing her son "a great disservice" by knocking the show's voting system.

Adam signed up for Strictly after a successful Tokyo 2020 Games, where he won two golds and a silver.

He also made history as the first British swimmer to retain an Olympic title after claiming victory in the men’s 100m backstroke.

After the results were revealed on Sunday, Adam hit back at critics who 'tried to bring him down' during stint on show after tearful exit.

For all the latest news and gossip, click here to sign up to our newsletter

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.