Strictly star James Cracknell says he has ‘no chance’ of winning the show after crashing bike before filming starts
STRICTLY star James Cracknell has revealed he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the show after being involved in a bike accident.
The rowing champ, 47, took to Twitter yesterday to reveal he had an “altercation” with a minicab driver while cycling through London, meaning his Strictly dreams “almost came to an end” before filming even begins.
James posted a video explaining the incident, with the caption: “Slight wobble – literally – in my @bbcstrictly preparations. Luckily only a bit of road rash and damaged ego – but I need to get ready for the latter. #daddancing #sharetheroad.”
In the video, James is wearing his cycling gear and is stood next to his green bike, which he rode while studying for his Masters at Cambridge University and calls Jake The Snake.
He told his followers: “It wasn’t a good day for Jake the Snake, the bike that saw me through Cambridge, or me, as my Strictly Come Dancing dreams nearly came to an end when I had an altercation with a minicab driver in London.
“It was nobody’s fault really,” James continued. “Good thing was there was no street furniture around for me to fall into. I was also wearing a helmet and I wasn’t listening to music so I could concentrate and was focused on what was ahead.”
But while James escaped with only a few minor injuries, he now believes he’s lowered his shot at ever raising the Glitterball trophy.
The sportsman said: “I now have to switch my focus from riding a bike to learning how to dance. To be honest, I have got more chance of winning the Tour [De France] than winning Strictly Come Dancing, but in for a penny.”
This isn’t the first time James has had an accident while riding a bike. Back in 2010, he was involved in a much more serious crash in the US and claimed he was “lucky to be alive” afterwards.
The incident left him with a fractured skull, memory loss and he also suffered from changes to his personality.
James has also had a tough time over the last year as his marriage to wife Beverley Turner ended after 17 years back in March.
The announcement came eight months after James moved to Cambridge for his studies and where he became the the oldest rower – and winner – in the Boat Race’s history.
Beverley later claimed he put his sport before his family.
She said: “James has spoken publicly about this latest feat, demonstrating to his children that you can do anything you set your mind to.
“He won’t mind me admitting that I consider that to be b******s — I wouldn’t want my children to view such an exit from familial responsibilities as something to aspire to.”
James, who revealed he was joining the Strictly line-up during an appearance on Good Morning Britain earlier this month, was reportedly banned from doing the show while married.
Beverley allegedly told her pals that she trusted her husband but didn’t want him having “some Russain f***y in his face every week.”
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But now the pair are no longer together, James says Beverley, with whom he has three kids – Croyde, 15, Kiki, 10, and Trixie, 8 – is fully behind his dancing dream.
“Bev was supportive and the kids went ‘No’,” he revealed. “They’re really embarrassed for me.”
Joining James on the dancefloor this series is Anneka Rice, Dev Griffin, Alex Scott, Jamie Laing, Will Bayley, Michelle Visage, Viscountess Emma Weymouth, Karim Zeroual, Mike Bushell, Emma Barton, Catherine Tyldesley, Saffron Barker, Chris Ramsey and David James.
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