James Cracknell fears the "fatigue" from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ training could trigger him to have another epileptic fit.
The rowing champion admits he is worried about how his intensive training will have on his condition but he doesn’t want to worry his professional dancing partner, Luba Mushtuk.
He said: "Some people get epilepsy from strobe lighting but not me. I don’t want to worry Luba but mine is set off by fatigue. When I’ve had a seizure it’s been because of not sleeping. Epilepsy comes with a bit of a stigma. One of the drawbacks is that it’s a hidden disability. I think it’s important for anyone who has a profile to get other people to understand it."
James doesn’t want "anything negative" to impact his time on the show.
He shared: "Doing a show that a quarter of the country watches, you’re always going to lose the right to moan about anything that’s written about you. I guess the people you are close to, they know the truth.
"But I’m aware that there’s a massive team doing the show and I don’t want anything negative to be brought on to the show which might affect the show or Luba or anything. If it’s me, well, fine."
And the 47-year-old athlete doesn’t think he’s having any kind of midlife crisis but is excited to take part on the latin and ballroom show as it is a "brilliant opportunity" and he feels "amazingly lucky" to do it.
Asked if he is having a midlife crisis, he told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "I don’t know! Certainly I’m having a shift of direction. I went back to studying at university to stop what I felt the perceptions were of me after a nasty accident. I thought if I can do that, and do what I used to do with rowing, then fine. And Strictly is a brilliant opportunity. I’m having a go at something I’m really not very good at. So many people watching would love to do this, and learn how to dance. I’m amazingly lucky to be able to do it."
James Cracknell’s epileptic fit fear
