Round 2: Redgrave row with Inverdale rages on
WHEN former Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave walked off set after a row with co-presenter John Inverdale live on air, it seemed things could not get more tense.
But on Saturday, the pair again locked horns with those who tuned in to the BBC’s rowing coverage watching in disbelief as Sir Steve interrupted his co-host in the middle of an interview.
As the five-time Olympic medallist stopped New Zealander Mahe Drysdale to congratulate him on his gold medal in the single sculls, Inverdale seized the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
But as Drysdale started to answer, Sir Steve, 54, snapped and told the veteran sports presenter to let him go and talk to the New Zealand broadcasters first. Sir Steve said: ‘I can’t allow that to happen. The Kiwis should get him first. There’s no doubt that’s fair.’
Later, when Drysdale returned to talk to the duo, Inverdale, 5 , quipped: ‘Mahe Drysdale, the extended version of that interview.’
The row came after an initial run-in on Thursday, when Sir Steve walked off and did not return for the rest of the day, according to The Sun newspaper.
That spat kicked off after Inverdale compared Sir Steve to a mute James Bond character Oddjob to which the ex-Olympian said: ‘We’ll have to call you Jaws because I can never get a word in edgeways.’ As part of the ongoing tension between the pair, Sir Steve also shook his umbrella onto Inverdale, covering him with droplets of rain. A source told The Sun: ‘Sir Steve was so livid that he walked off because he wasn’t able to speak.’
And those watching on their televisions at home, could not help but notice the simmering atmosphere between the pair.
Andrew Brooks tweeted: ‘And it’s Day 6 in the When Will Steve Redgrave Thump John Inverdale competition.’
Anya Grace added: ‘If the rowing doesn’t end with Steve Redgrave chucking Inverdale in the lake I’m gonna be disappointed.’
John Cadigan wrote: ‘Presumably Steve Redgrave is going to finish by belting John Inverdale into the lake with an oar.’