STRICTLY star Tony Adams had a secret bust-up with his partner Katya Jones hours before performing on Saturday night.
The 56-year-old held “crisis” talks backstage after becoming overwhelmed by fear doing the dress rehearsal.
It led professional dancer Katya to deliver some “home truths” to the former footballer – ultimately helping him achieve his top scores of the series.
Speaking to It Takes Two host Rylan Clark today, Tony admitted: “I was full of fear beforehand. We had a team talk.
“She [Katya] came into my dressing room after our dress rehearsal and told me a few home truths about me holding back.
“I think she admits it could have gone either way. I could have thrown my toys out of the pram and gone home.
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“But I fought back the fear and just kind of went for it.”
Katya replied: “What you said is right, I took a risk.
“It could have fallen apart or it could have given him that extra fire in his belly.
“I took a risk because I thought that’s what he needs right now. It definitely did pay off.”
Giving fans an insight to their backstage row, Tony compared it to a telling off from his old Arsenal boss George Graham.
“The last time I’ve been told off like that was by George Graham and I left the dressing room,” he told Rylan.
“I said ‘that’s not for me anymore, I’m going’.”
He added: “Katya’s more attractive than George Graham, maybe that’s why I put up with it.”
Tony and Katya — who have repeatedly escaped the dance-off thanks to voting fans — performed an American Smooth to With A Little Help from My Friends, by Joe Cocker.
The judges gave the pair a total score of 26 – leading Tony to accidentally swear with joy on live TV.
Earlier this week Katya opened up this week about difficulties with Tony in rehearsals.
The 33-year-old explained: “Tony requires about 200 per cent praise, which is not possible in this very intense learning process.
“Everything can’t be amazing all the time. So I just get him socks. I said to him that every week we get through I’ll get him a pair of new socks.
“The ones this week have got our faces on. That puts a smile on his face.”
And while Tony said he is “loving every minute” of Strictly, he was blindsided by the emotional and physical toll.
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But as the eldest contestant left in the competition, he’s determined not to give up.
Tony — who set up mental health charity Sporting Chance in 2000 — signed up for Strictly in a bid to show others battling addiction that anything is possible after recovery.
