Brendan Cole has disclosed that being overheard using the C-word about head judge Shirley Ballas on three separate occasions was likely the reason for his removal from Strictly Come Dancing.
The former professional dancer, who appeared on the BBC show from its inaugural series in 2004 until 2017, made the admission on the Manopause podcast alongside fellow ex-Strictly star James Jordan.
According to Mr Cole, programme bosses demanded an assurance that he would not repeat the insult, but he was unwilling to agree.
“I don’t condone the C-word. And at the time, I apologised for using it but I wasn’t going to backtrack on it and say, ‘Well, it wasn’t true,’ because I thought it was true,” he said.
Brendan Cole talked about being axed from Strictly
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He also revealed that a senior figure who had pledged him long-term employment subsequently departed for Channel 4, after which his position on the show swiftly ended.
Mr Cole stressed that his views on Ms Ballas have evolved considerably since those heated moments behind the scenes.
“Listen, I love Shirley. I think she’s a great judge. At the time, I didn’t think she was particularly nice to us, and I vocalised that. Some would argue it cost me the gig,” he told the podcast.
The dancer acknowledged a tendency to be “hot-headed” during his years on the programme.
Brendan refused to agree not to call Shirley Ballas the C-word again
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BBCHe recalled one particular flashpoint in which he slammed a door in a producer’s face after growing frustrated over pressure for his celebrity partner to take to the dance floor.
Despite the turbulent ending, Mr Cole said he preferred to focus on what came afterwards.
He maintained that the three or four years following his Strictly departure were the finest of his professional career.
Mr Jordan’s experience mirrored that of his fellow dancer in several respects. The professional, who featured on Strictly from 2006 to 2013 alongside his then-wife Ola Jordan, believes his willingness to speak his mind ultimately sealed his fate on the programme.
Brendan Cole was among the original professional dancers on the show
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Both dancers were keen to emphasise that their gratitude for the show remains intact despite the circumstances of their departures.
Mr Jordan noted that Strictly provided them with a “platform” that proved invaluable to their careers.
During their respective runs on the programme, both enjoyed notable successes.
Mr Cole triumphed in the very first series with newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and went on to partner celebrities including Kelly Brook, Lisa Snowdon and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Brendan Cole labelled himself as ‘too outspoken’ for BBC Strictly
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Mr Jordan, meanwhile, reached the final with both Denise Van Outen and Pamela Stephenson, and was also paired with Vanessa Feltz and Alex Jones.
The pair are now channelling their shared experiences into a joint venture, with their Dance Rebels: Strictly Unleashed tour scheduled to launch in April 2027.