Brendan Cole 'feels snubbed' by Strictly dancers who stayed quiet over firing that has left him 'emotional and raw'

Brendan Cole said in an ITV interview that he felt 'emotional and raw' after being axed
Supplied by WENN
Eleanor Rose3 February 2018

Brendan Cole feels "snubbed" as his former co-stars on Strictly Come Dancing kept quiet over his firing, according to reports.

Since the dancer, 41, announced on Tuesday he had been let go from the show, only one of the other professional dancers on the show appears to have come out to back him.

Cole is said to be upset over the apparent lack of support as judges also kept quiet over the matter.

A source told The Sun: "It’s an extra kick in the teeth. Not one of Brendan’s colleagues came out in support of him, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

"Over the years the pro dancers have been on Twitter hundreds of times posting messages about celebrities and professionals as they’ve left.

"For no one to say anything about Brendan who has been on the show since Day One felt like a real snub."

Fellow pro Janette Manrara, the only one to publicly acknowledge the shock news, took to Twitter two days after the news was announced to say how sorry she is to see Cole go.

​Manrara, who joined the show in its 11th season, wrote: "Because of being sick I never got around to saying to my colleague & dear friend @BrendanCole just how much @bbcstrictly will miss him!

"From day 1 he acted like family, guided me, & made me smile! A true LEGEND! I love you so much & THANK YOU for everything! ❤️ [sic]"

Cole's departure comes after 13 years on the show as he, along with Anton Du Beke, was the only professional dancer still on Strictly since the show's inception in 2004.

The New Zealand-born star was known for sparring with the Strictly judges over the years and, in the most recent series, for clashing with new judge Shirley Ballas over his tango with Good Morning Britain's Charlotte Hawkins.

Cole told the Daily Mail: "I don't know if that was handled the right way on air. If you disagree with somebody, which I did that particular day about the way she felt we danced the tango, you have the right to say what I did."

He said that he did not "get aggressive" and that he just disagreed with the comments, although he does regret the way he then spoke to judge Bruno Tonioli.

"But what I certainly regret is saying: 'I will, my dear'," he said of his retort to Tonioli.

"The phrase 'my dear' is patronising and I certainly didn't mean to be. I'm not a patronising person. But you're on a live TV show and you're frustrated with the situation," Cole said, adding that he would take it back if he could.

He said: "But the last six months have been pretty horrendous. If I could work it out, I would. All I know is you can't put a foot wrong.

"You can't even dip a toe on the other side within that world because it will be taken, it will be run with, and before long you're in a s***storm."

He also revealed that he had had a "screen test" for the head judge role, which was eventually given to Ballas after Len Goodman left.

The BBC said of Cole's exit: "We'd like to thank Brendan for being part of the show since the beginning - winner of the first series - and for the contribution he has made to its success. We wish him all the very best for the future."

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