Tony Adams says struggling ‘psychological breakdown’ six years in the past led to Strictly stint

The 55-year-old captained Arsenal and England throughout his skilled profession, successful 66 caps for his nation and showing at 4 main tournaments.

Because of his experiences with alcoholism and drug dependancy, he later based Sporting Likelihood, a charity to assist sportspeople with psychological well being and dependancy points.

Forward of the collection launch on Friday, Adams recalled how coming near demise spurred him on to affix the “foolish” BBC One present.

He mentioned: “I’ve been requested a number of occasions. I had a psychological breakdown after I was 49 and dealing too laborious in China and I’ve simply obtained time now.

“I’m not working an excessive amount of, my calendar’s fairly empty for the following three months so I simply thought yeah, go for it.

“After my coronary heart process – I almost died after I was 49 – my predominant artery was 99% closed and the stress of life.

“I’m a little bit of a born worrier, my mum was a worrier so I simply determined to take issues a bit simpler and get myself on a foolish present.”

Adams mentioned medical workers for the programme had given him a “thorough examination” and described the manufacturing as “one other stage”.

He added: “My physio was fairly damning as a result of I’ve obtained a brand new steel knee as properly, she went ‘no knee slides’.

“It was ‘can’t do that, can’t do this’ – she saved saying ‘you’re not superb are you?’. I mentioned ‘I’m 55 now’.”

Adams was sentenced to 4 months in jail in 1990 for drink driving and mentioned that have would assist him cope with any important suggestions on his dancing.

He joked: “I’m going to prime you all as a result of after I got here out of jail they lobbed bottles at me and I had carrots thrown at me, so I’ve trumped it.”

Strictly Come Dancing launches on Friday September 23 at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.