Strictly’s Adam Peaty in tears as Katya Jones has ‘explosive’ backstage meltdown over disastrous jive
RAGING Katya Jones had a backstage meltdown moments before she and Adam Peaty were controversially booted off Strictly.
The Russian pro dancer, 32, ranted about their low scores from the judges.
She and Olympic swimming legend Adam, 26, were instead left in floods of tears after losing the dance-off shown on Sunday.
Katya said her partnership with Adam was so good they could have got to the Strictly final — while his mum lashed out at the judges’ “unfair” scoring.
His mum Caroline called the show “a total farce” after Adam ended up bottom behind a string of BBC presenters and stars, including Dan Walker who they regularly outscored.
She said: “Total fix and I’m not buying the public vote.
“I believe in fairness, it’s frustrating when you can see from the start that it isn’t, that is all.”
Celebs still left in the contest include EastEnders actor Rose Ayling-Ellie and Beeb presenters Rhys Stephenson and AJ Odudu.
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Caroline later retweeted another viewer who posted: “You do realise AJ, Rhys, Rose all work for the BBC, yeah?”
A TV insider said: “Katya was absolutely furious during filming not just because the dance hadn’t gone as well as they hoped but by the low marks they received.
“Both Katya and Adam were in tears after a week in which they’d thrown their all into getting the routine right.
“And though it hadn’t gone perfectly, both of them were shocked at being at the bottom of the scoreboard and finding themselves in the dance-off after the public vote. So getting shown the door on Sunday was utterly devastating.”
Read our Strictly Come Dancing live blog for the latest updates
Caroline lashed out online after her son lost in the dance-off to Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin.
She tweeted: “The judging is not consistent or fair, not just with Adam either! And just so you know I am a kind person.”
The judges gave them 27 points on Saturday night for their 50s-themed jive — one lower than Dan and Nadiya Bychkova, whose routine was roundly panned.
Every week, contestants are ranked by a combination of judges’ scores and public votes. The bottom two couples take part in a dance-off. The judges then decide who leaves the show.
On the pre-recorded show broadcast the following evening, three judges voted for Tilly and Nikita. Only head judge Shirley Ballas wanted to save Adam and Katya, who were visibly upset.
A TV insider said: “Katya was emotional after their performance on Saturday, and shed a few tears backstage as they’d worked so hard and put their all into it, so naturally they were gutted to not get a higher score.
“I think everyone could see how much it meant to both of them in the results show with their emotions spilling over.”
Last night Katya wiped away more tears as the pair appeared on sister show It Takes Two.
Adam said: “I am hurt, but I know that Katya’s hurting a little bit, which hurts me more.”
I think everyone could see how much it meant to both of them in the results show with their emotions spilling over.
He also revealed he was struggling with injuries from intense training.
He said: “On the Thursday I was like, ‘Katya, I can’t do any more. I’m an Olympic athlete and I can push through things that most people can’t push through, but my Achilles is going to go’.”
Earlier in the day he told fans how devastated he was at being knocked out — and how his emotions flooded out. Adam — who won two golds in Tokyo this year — said: “I didn’t know how much it meant to me until I got a bit emotional after my dance-off.
“However, I don’t think it was the dancing that pushed me over the edge, but the two years of the constant challenge combined with the energy to win the Olympics and becoming a father at the same time. My emotions are one of my strongest attributes and I’m not ashamed to show I’m human.
“It’s crazy to me because I thought I was ‘OK’ but I am not.”
The pair’s exit comes after he appeared to almost snog Katya at the end of one dance, though he vehemently denied it.
I don’t think it was the dancing that pushed me over the edge, but the two years of the constant challenge with myself combined with the energy to win the Olympics and becoming a father at the same time.
Adam Peaty
His girlfriend Eiri Munro, 23, posted a clip where she pretended to cry, writing: “Watching your boyfriend almost kiss another woman live on TV.”
Katya also paid tribute to Adam. She wrote: “There was a lot of tears. To see u spill your heart & soul on that dance floor last night and every Saturday night has been the joy to watch.
“I am sure I can speak on behalf of the entire nation, how absolutely privileged we’ve been to see our hero come straight from winning an Olympic gold to take on a new challenge.”
The BBC declined to comment.
- STRICTLY continues Saturday, BBC1, 6.40pm.
