Rio 2016 Olympics hotting up as Sir Steve Redgrave storms off in telly row with John Inverdale — but Brits win two rowing golds
ROWING hero Sir Steve Redgrave’s TV pairing with John Inverdale at the Olympics has hit choppy waters.
He walked out of the BBC’s coverage following an on-air bust-up with his co-presenter.
Yesterday the two were forced to work together again — but the clash continued as Redgrave drenched Inverdale by shaking a wet umbrella.
Their spat began on Thursday when Inverdale compared Sir Steve to mute James Bond villain Oddjob.
After 007-themed footage about rowing was screened, Inverdale said: “Well, Oddjob alongside me here enjoyed seeing that . . . ”
Furious Sir Steve hit back: “We’ll have to call you Jaws because I can never get a word in edgeways.”
Ten minutes later, he rolled his eyes on camera while Inverdale ranted on about women’s rowing.
Redgrave, 54, who won five golds at as many Games, vanished after pulling a face at his colleague.
He did not return on screen with Inverdale, 58, for the rest of the day.
Yesterday Sir Steve held an umbrella over them both as they were back in front of the cameras.
Inverdale teased: “Is he so strong that he could hold an umbrella for 20 minutes with just his left hand?”
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Sir Steve replied: “I think he probably could . . . hang on everybody, just take the water off the umbrella here!”
He then shook the wet umbrella over Inverdale’s head and grinned.
A source said: “The pair obviously don’t like each other and Sir Steve was so livid that he walked off because he wasn’t able to speak.
“It was clear that John had been told to give him more opportunities to speak after the row — but still managed to annoy him.
“They both looked grumpy. There was no chemistry between them.”
Viewers seemed in no doubt that the pair were not getting along during Thursday’s action.
Ricky Johnson tweeted: “Looks like John Inverdale and Steve Redgrave have had a lovers’ tiff.”
A BBC Spokesperson said: “Whilst Steve was unable to stay with us throughout Thursday's daytime programme he was back on air the same evening.
“He returned on Friday alongside John Inverdale and any suggestion that there is an issue between Steve and John is simply untrue.”
Inverdale has made a series of gaffes and was sidelined from the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage after he made sexist comments about French player Marion Bartoli in 2013.
The Beeb apologised after he commented that she “was never going to be a looker”.
Last year he accidentally used the C-word during the BBC coverage of Cheltenham Festival.
And in July, he was also accused of “casual racism” when he compared tennis player Nick Kyrgios to a character in the Jungle Book.