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.
Tony Adams on Strictly It Takes Two tonight
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.
“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 by George Graham I left the dressing room,” he told Rylan.
“I said ‘that’s not for me anymore I’m going’.”
He added: “She’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 swear with joy.
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.
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.
