James Cracknell has been forced to dismiss claims that he threw a tantrum when he lost his place on Strictly Come Dancing.
The rowing ace became the first celebrity contestant to be axed from the BBC One series over the weekend after failing to impress with his dance moves.
Shortly after his exit, rumours surfaced that the 47-year-old was less than impressed about being the first out and flew into a rage after the cameras stopped rolling.
According to an unnamed TV source, the Olympic rower ranted it was a ‘massive mistake’ to take part in the competition, adding he’s been ‘made to look completely stupid’.
An insider told The Sun: “He was livid at being axed. He was saying things like, ‘It was a massive mistake to do Strictly. I’ve been made to look completely stupid.’
“James is very competitive — he won gold at the Olympics twice — and he felt he wasn’t given a fair chance.
“It was like his first career failure. He was very angry backstage and had to be calmed down.”
But James has shut down the comments, taking to Twitter to put things right, saying that throwing a wobbler would be ‘stupid’.
He tweeted, along with a link to the story: "I don’t reply to people’s comments but I’m not gonna let this one go. @LubaMushtuk & I had fun & our best dance but it wasn’t enough.
“I know I’m no John Travolta so to throw my toys out the pram would be stupid."
James previously spoke about how his brain injury sustained after being hit by a petrol tanker in 2010 has made it hard to remember dance moves with partner Luba Mushtuk.
He injured his brain’s frontal lobes which processes how you learn.
James says: “You become more regimented, so you have to work within that.
"It’s probably been a struggle for Luba, her having to say ‘do the steps and they will come’, rather than having to make sure it’s perfect.”
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here . And you can follow us on Facebook here .
