James Cracknell banned from Strictly by his wife as she doesn’t want ‘Russian f**ny in his face’
JAMES Cracknell’s wife banned him from doing Strictly because she doesn’t want “some Russian f**ny in his face every week”.
James, a two-time gold medallist, joins a list of more than 20 celebrities who have turned down the BBC1 show after its infamous curse destroyed Jamie and Louise Redknapp’s marriage.
A source said: “James was offered Strictly but his wife Bev said there was no way it was happening.
“She trusts her husband but she told pals that she didn’t want ‘some Russian f***y in his face every week’ as part of the competition, so had him politely decline.
“James was up for taking part as it’s a good way to boost his profile again but Bev said no.
“He joins an ever-growing list of celebrities who don’t want to risk falling foul to the show’s infamous curse.”
On Friday The Sun revealed how 21 stars had turned down a spot on the BBC1 show because of the impact it had on Jamie and Louise Redknapp’s 18-year marriage.
Other married stars ruling out a rumba include EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, 29, Robot Wars host Angela Scanlon, 34, Apprentice sidekick Claude Littner, 68, Countdown host Nick Hewer, 73, BBC star Mel Giedroyc, 49, and actress Martine McCutcheon, 41.
James, 45, is believed to be keen on taking part in reality TV, having been signed up as a reserve for this year’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.
He shot to fame as part of the infamous coxless four Team GB rowing team that won gold in Sydney in 2000 alongside Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave.
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He then triumphed again at Athens 2004, taking home a gold medal once again.
But the dad-of-three said he was “lucky to be alive” after receiving a skull fracture in a near-fatal bike accident in the US in 2010.
Cracknell suffered bruising to his brain after a truck hit his bike while filming in Winslow, in Arizona, for the Discovery channel.
He said at the time that he has suffered memory loss and his personality was permanently altered.