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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Frances Kindon

Strictly's Tony Adams 'rejected Ulrika Jonsson's bold come-on because he wanted Caprice'

He's emerged as the entertaining underdog on Strictly Come Dancing, bringing the laughs with his epic Full Monty performance last Saturday.

Paired with professional dancer Katya Jones, Arsenal legend Tony Adams wowed in his sparkly glitterball boxer shorts, rendering judge Craig Revel-Horwood speechless.

Tony, 55, is of course no stranger to the spotlight and once enjoyed a high-profile romance with model Caprice Bourret, 50.

The former England defender met Caprice in 1999 after guiding the Gunners to a league and cup double the season before. He compared their physical connection to a 'drug', but broke it off after just four months, citing a lack of an 'emotional connection'.

Tony Adams and Caprice Bourret dated for four months (Daily Mirror)
Tony said their chemistry was 'like a drug' (Daily Mirror)

Writing in his autobiography, Sober, he said: "I don't think it was purely physical – and there were plenty who would say I was punching above my weight... I liked her very much. She was an honest and sincere woman. And, I have to say, I felt like a king in the company of this beautiful woman.

"In the end, though, I knew I would have to end the relationship due to the lack of emotional connection.

"It felt like an act, that she was playing a game before and after she met me. The honesty and sincerity I saw initially got lost behind the facade. I did have second thoughts – and there is always regret when a relationship ends. But I knew it was right to move on. Sex can be such a drug and could have kept me in the relationship."

Tony also revealed that the two of them had the chance to reunite on reality television, but he decided against the move.

Tony showed off his glitterball boxers as part of the Full Monty (BBC)

Explaining how he was offered £50,000 to appear on Celebrity Big Brother alongside his ex, Tony said he called Caprice - who he remained on good terms with - and agreed producers were 'probably looking for fireworks'.

Not one for drama, Tony ruled himself out.

Meanwhile, he also let slip that on the night he met Caprice on old team-mate Ian Wright's Friday night ITV chat show, another famous woman also made a move on him.

"I was on the show with Ulrika Jonsson, who slipped her phone number on a piece of paper into my pocket," he wrote.

However, Ulrika's luck was out, with Tony having set his sights on Caprice.

"I was flattered but I had no desire to follow up her interest," he added.

Tony said Ulrika slipped him her number (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Ulrika says she's still fond of Tony (WireImage)

"I was more interested in Caprice, who was Ian's sidekick on the show and who made it plain she was attracted to me."

It appears old affections die hard though. When Tony's old quotes about his chemistry with Caprice recently resurfaced, Ulrika threw her support behind him, admitting she'd "always been partial to a bit of Tony."

Referencing a Channel 4 documentary she made 15 years ago called Ulrika...Am I a Sex Addict? she praised him for his honesty.

"In Tony's case, I suspect, he has acknowledged that sex was a drug which always left him with enjoyable highs which then led him to be in constant pursuit of the next one," she said in her column for The Sun.

"But for many sufferers the effects are not often about enjoyment or satisfaction but have a serious – and sometimes very dangerous - effect on their mental and physical well-being.

Tony was an alcoholic at the height of his career, but got sober in 1996 (Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Tony hasn't touched a drop of booze since (Getty Images)

"Still, it's good to hear a man open up about his frailties and shortcomings."

Three years before his fling with Caprice, Tony got sober after a decade of alcoholism that saw him black out, sleep with prostitutes and wind up in intensive care.

His torment finally ended at 5pm on a Friday afternoon in August 1996, when, after a six-week bender, he drank his last pint of Guinness, stopped to get some fish and chips, and went home to detox. The following Monday he joined AA and hasn't touched a drop since.

After reaching rock bottom, Tony turned his life around and went on to win four major trophies as a player before retiring and going into coaching.

He set up charity Sporting Chance in 2000 to help footballers and other sports stars recover from addiction.

Who do you think will made the Strictly final this year? Have your say in the comments section below...

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