The cricketer commented that the contestants are “pulling out knives” from their backs as the competition heats up, adding there are “one or two” people that “nobody really likes”.
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Graeme Swann has hinted at backstage tensions on 'Strictly'
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Speaking on BBC Radio 5Live’s ‘Test Match Special’ podcast (via The Sun), he said: “It is feral out there - the eyes I get from Tess Daly, I’m not sure if they’re smouldering or murderous.
“It is showbiz, remember. Everyone is ‘lovey dovey darling’ to your face but behind closed doors you are pulling out knives from your back every five minutes.”
Asked if everyone is as chummy behind the scenes as we’re led to believe, Graeme replied: “For the most part. There’s always one or two, pretty much like in a cricket team, who no one really likes but everyone pretends to for the good of the show.”
Addressing the fact contestants like Ashley Roberts and Faye Tozer already had dance experience prior to joining ‘Strictly’, he added: “There are one or two who have done more dancing than [the professionals] have - but let’s not get too bitter about that.”
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Ashley Roberts is one of the more experienced 'Strictly' dancers this year
“I think the pros were told ‘wind your neck in’,” he said. “And they were all very angry because they couldn’t go to a couple of functions that they wanted to.
“A curfew was placed upon them. So it’s very much like being in a team, if one person lets the side down…”
Revealing Seann also failed to see the funny side of the backlash he and Katya received, Graeme added: “I said to him ‘I want to see how awkward the first introductions since the incident are going to be’.
“I thought he’d find the funny side. He just looked at me and said ‘please don’t mate and walked off’.”
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ continues on Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One.
13 times the Strictly "curse" struck
Rachel Riley(01 of13)
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The Countdown presenter announced her split from her husband just weeks after her stint on the show. In 2014, she and pro dancer Pasha Kovalev confirmed they were dating, though she remained insistent that Strictly had nothing to do with her marriage split.
Susanna's marriage ended in February 2014, weeks after she finished as a runner-up in the competition. The Good Morning Britain anchor continued to live with her ex, Dominic Cotton, and their two sons in the months that followed. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Louise Redknapp(03 of13)
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After reaching the final of the 2016 series, Louise began to be plagued with rumours her 19-year marriage to former footballer Jamie Redknapp was on the rocks. Months later, the couple confirmed they had gone their separate ways. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Joe Calzaghe(04 of13)
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Boxer Joe and pro dancer Kristina Rihanoff initally denied romance rumours when they were paired together in 2009. However Joe split from his girlfriend just weeks later. Joe and Kristina later confirmed that they were a couple, before splitting after four years together. (credit:Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
Ben Cohen(05 of13)
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While on the show, Ben denied rumours that he was romancing his pro partner Kristina, and later split from his wife Abby. He and Kristina went on to confirm their relationship but remained insistent it had only begun after the breakdown of his marriage. The couple now have a child together. (credit:Steve Thorne via Getty Images)
Matt Di Angelo(06 of13)
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The EastEnders star reportedly first hooked up with Flavia Cacace during their time dancing together on the 2008 series – on which Flavia's then-boyfriend Vincent Simone was also a dancer. However, they weren't together for long... (credit:Jon Furniss via Getty Images)
Jimi Mistry(07 of13)
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Just a year after getting together with Matt, Flavia ended the relationship after finding love with her new dance partner Jimi. The couple married in 2013. (credit:Dave Hogan via Getty Images)
Natasha Kaplinsky (08 of13)
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Newsreader Natasha and Brendan were plagued by romance rumours when they were paired up for the first ever series of Strictly in 2004. Despite being insistent that they were just friends, Natasha and Brendan both split from their partners shortly after winning the series. (credit:MJ Kim via Getty Images)
Daisy Lowe(09 of13)
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Daisy split from her boyfriend Bradley "Frankie" Wade during her stint on Strictly in 2016. The relationship was still quite new and the pair struggled to find the time to see each other with her commitments to the show. (credit:PA Archive/PA Images)
Sunetra Sarker(10 of13)
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Sunetra split from her husband of 10 years just before filming for the 2014 series began. (credit:Eamonn M. McCormack via Getty Images)
Dani Harmer (11 of13)
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Tracey Beaker star Dani split from her boyfriend just days after filming began in 2012. (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
Helen George(12 of13)
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Just after Helen announced she was one of the 2015 contestants, the Call The Midwife actor revealed she was splitting from her husband of four years, Oliver Boot. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Georgia May Foote(13 of13)
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Georgia entered Strictly while in a relationship with former Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward. However, just after the series ended, the couple announced their split, and it wasn't long before she embarked on a relationship with dance partner Giovanni Pernice. They eventually broke up after less than a year together. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)