James Cracknell has dismissed claims that he threw a tantrum after becoming the first celebrity to be eliminated from this year's Strictly Come Dancing. The Olympic rower, 47, was voted off the BBC One show over the weekend after failing to impress the judges with his dance moves.
Reports surfaced shortly after his exit suggesting that Cracknell was furious about being the first contestant to leave, with an unnamed TV source claiming he ranted that taking part in the competition was a 'massive mistake' and that he had been 'made to look completely stupid'. The source told The Sun that Cracknell was 'livid' and had to be calmed down backstage.
However, Cracknell took to Twitter to deny the allegations, saying it would be 'stupid' to throw his toys out of the pram. He tweeted: '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.'
Cracknell had previously spoken about how a brain injury sustained in 2010, when he was hit by a petrol tanker, has made it difficult to remember dance routines. The injury affected his frontal lobes, which process learning, and he admitted it had been a struggle for his professional partner Luba Mushtuk.
