Footballing great Tony Adams says he will have no trouble handling Craig Revel Horwood 's scathing put-downs on Strictly Come Dancing because he's dealt with far worse.
The soccer star said that having come through a stint in prison, a battle with booze, a mental breakdown and a life-threatening heart scare, he's ready for anything.
Former alcoholic Adams served 58 days in Chelmsford Prison following a 1990 conviction for drink-driving.
Now 26 years sober, the former Arsenal and England defender - nicknamed Donkey - laughs when fellow contestants list the tough experiences they believe will help them cope with the Strictly pressure.
"I'm going to top you all," he insists, "because when I came out of prison they lobbed bottles at me and I had carrots thrown at me. So - I’ve trumped it."
The dad-of-six, 55, says he accepted the offer to appear on the show following a tough few years, which have left him wanting to inject more fun into his life.
"I had a mental breakdown when I was 49 and working too hard in China," he explains. "I'm not working too much, my calendar's pretty empty for the next three months so I just thought yeah,
go for it."
He said the "stress of life" had got to him around 2015, when he had to have heart surgery. "I nearly died, my main artery was 99% closed.
"I'm a bit of a born worrier - my mum was a worrier - so I just decided to take things a bit easier and get myself on a silly show."
The sportsman now feels fit and healthy but producers on the BBC dance show aren't taking any chances after what happened last year with comedian Robert Webb.
Webb, who has a heart condition, had to pull out due to poor health, on a doctor's advice.
"They do a very thorough examination," Tony said. "My physio was quite damning because I've got a new metal knee as well. She went 'no knee slides'. It was 'you can’t do this, can't do that'."
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Comedian Jayde Adams said she too will be able to take the criticism.
"I've done 10 years of stand-up comedy and there is nothing harder than dealing with an audience who, en masse, tell you you're not funny," the 37-year-old says. "So I think I’m going to revel in the criticism."
Corrie favourite Kym Marsh, 46, reckons her appearance on Pop Stars back in 2001, in which she faced down 'Nasty' Nigel Lythgoe, has prepared her.
She said: "If you can survive what Nigel said to you, I mean, you can survive anything.
"I got called fat on national television when I was 24 years old – it was outrageous. I think that's probably the worst thing that could happen."
CBBC star Molly Rainford, 21, reckons her experience of performing for Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent aged 11 in 2012 will make Craig seem like a pussycat.
She said: "I think they’re two tough cookies to crack, but I know Simon had a soft side so I’m hoping Craig will have a soft side as well. Hopefully I can unlock it."
But Kaye Adams, 59, admits she’s very thin-skinned. The Loose Women presenter added: "I'd love to say I'd shrug that off but I don't."
Other stars on Strictly, launching on Friday on BBC1, include singers Fleur East and Matt Goss, actor Will Mellor, DJ Tyler West and TV’s Helen Skelton.
Craig is joined on the panel by Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas and Oti Mabuse.
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing launches on Friday (September 23) from 7pm on the BBC. The first live show airs Saturday (September 24) from 6.45pm.
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