Strictly Come Dancing star hated dancing with | UK News

Strictly Come Dancing has been on our tv screens for over 20 years, but sometimes not every skilled dancer will click on with their celeb companion. Whilst some pairings have blossomed into romantic relationships, others have not always seen eye to eye. During a current chat with Closer Magazine, Brendan Cole has unveiled that he only “got on really well with about five” of his companions. The 49-year-old ballroom dancer appeared in the first 15 sequence of Strictly Come Dancing, and his first ever celeb companion was BBC newsreader and presenter Natasha Kaplinsky. They ultimately went on to win the first sequence in 2004.

He confessed: “Got on okay with another five, didn’t particularly get on with four, and absolutely hated one. […] That’s just the truth of working closely with different people, you don’t click with everyone, and that’s completely normal.”

Other companions that have been paired with Brendan embrace Sarah Manners, Fiona Phillips, Claire King, Lisa Snowdon, Kelly Brook, Lulu, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Anita Dobson.

He added: “Every pro says they’ve got the best celebrity, and every celebrity says they’ve got the best pro – because that’s what you have to say. But that’s not always the case. […] From my own experience over fifteen series I’d say I got on really well with about five of my partners.”

Despite being on the show for 15 years, Brendan was brutally axed from Strictly in 2018. Speaking to Lorraine, he explained that his departure was an “editorial decision.”

He beforehand shared: “This is quite hard to talk about. The BBC haven’t renewed my contract – we get renewed year on year – and they made an editorial decision not to have me back on the show.”

“I’m a little bit in shock. I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it,” he added. “I’ve always known this day would come… I’m sure I’ll never know the ins and outs. I’m a very strong character within the show, I have my strong views.”

Since he left Strictly, Brendan has continued to keep in the TV highlight. He famously signed up for Celebrity X Factor in 2019 and carried out as a duo boyband: Cole and Edwards. But, he was booted out during the initial auditions.

In 2022, Brendan appeared as a contestant on Dancing on Ice. He made it all the best way to the ultimate but was narrowly defeated by fellow celeb Regan Gascoigne, son of soccer legend Paul Gascoigne.

Strictly Come Dancing resumes on Saturday 18 October on BBC One.