James Cracknell revealed as 14th star to join Strictly Come Dancing 2019 line-up
The Olympic gold winner will swap rowing for the rumba later this year...

James Cracknell revealed his family are "embarrassed" for him after he was confirmed as the 14th celebrity to join this year's Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
- Who is joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 line-up?
- We may have cracked the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 codenames
- Did Stacey Dooley let slip who David James' Strictly partner will be?
The Olympic gold winner, 47, who earlier this year became the oldest competitor and winner for Cambridge during the Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race, was unveiled by Gemma Collins on Good Morning Britain.
Speaking to Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway about his dance skills, he said: "I single-mindedly lean on a bar and then at a certain point in the night I think I’m good at dancing.
"I know what I’m in for and I’ve had some mates that have done it. It’s going to be interesting having no confidence in it," before adding that his family was "embarrassed" for him.
"They have a similar feeling in that they are embarrassed for me. Bev [Beverley Turner, his estranged wife] was supportive and the kids went: 'No!' They said I’ve got to get some dad dancing in the routine."
Want to see this content?
We're not able to show you this content from Twitter. Please sign out of Contentpass to view this content.
He continued: "The biggest challenge for me is to give myself permission to look stupid and fail and let myself off the leash, with other stuff I quite like to be in control."
Cracknell previously opened up to Radio Times about the struggles he overcame to compete in the Boat Race this year, over a decade after he gave up rowing professionally.
He joins footballer David James, Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin, football pundit Alex Scott, comedian Chris Ramsey, EastEnders actress Emma Barton, social media star Saffron Barker, actress Catherine Tyldesley, BBC Breakfast's Mike Bushell, CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual, Viscountess Emma Weymouth, RuPaul Drag Race's Michelle Visage, Paralympian Will Bayley and Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, BBC Radio 1 host Dev Griffin for this year’s show.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC 1 later this year
Authors

Give 6 months for £55
The best gifts arrive every week and with this special offer you can save 65% (full price £320) on weekly copies of Radio Times and full access to the Radio Times app for your special someone.




