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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

Strictly's Tony Adams says 'fear got him' as mind went blank seconds before live dance

Strictly Come Dancing 's Tony Adams has explained why his first routine last weekend didn't go as planned.

The former pro footballer and football manager debuted with dance partner Katya Jones on Saturday night, but found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Tony has now confessed why he didn't put on the best routine, or pull off the moves like he was meant to.

Katya explained that in rehearsals, she saw a "proper dancer" in Tony who pulled off a great routine - while there were things to work on, as the judges were left unimpressed when it came to the live dance.

Strictly Come Dancing's Tony Adams has explained why his first routine last weekend didn't go as planned (BBC)

Speaking to Rylan Clark on It Takes Two on Friday, Tony explained that fear and panic attacks, something he has experienced since childhood, affected him on the night.

As it came to his performance, he panicked and his mind went blank, meaning he wasn't able to do the routine as he'd rehearsed it.

He said: "It was terrifying. I went completely blank, completely blank. I just kind of went, 'help!'... nothing, white noise. The only bit I could do was the silly dance."

Strictly Come Dancing star Tony Adams revealed he 'went completely blank' as soon as he stepped onto the dancefloor (BBC)

Katya added: "You know what, that is actually the first time ever my celebrity has completely blacked put. I've never had that before.

"I wouldn't like it to happen again but in rehearsal, I saw a proper dancer who could do it, and that's all that mattered to me. This is a learning curve definitely, and we have taken so much away from that week."

Tony then went on: "The fear just got me, the fear got me completely. I went back to my childhood about reading books in school. I couldn't read because I was having panic attacks as a kid.

"All of a sudden, I am in the same place, I was waiting for one dancer after the other that were doing their stuff. I was on 11th and I went on and went, 'Ah!'."

Katya supported him, saying: "But isn't it amazing because people would not expect Tony Adams, the captain, to experience emotions like that."

Tony then revealed he was "gone" during the feedback, and became emotional the next day thanks to the support of viewers.

He revealed: "I didn't hear a thing, I really didn't… I was completely gone. I was very emotional on the Sunday afterwards when I realised what happened. The outpouring of people being supportive, it was incredible."

Strictly's It Takes Two airs weeknights at 6:30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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