Strictly didn’t axe me for waltz with Camilla says Cole
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Brendan Cole yesterday denied rumours he was axed from the BBC show after waltzing with the Duchess of Cornwall.
The dancer caused a stir last year when he whisked Camilla, 70, on to the dance floor as the programme’s stars visited Buckingham Palace for a charity event.
It was claimed earlier this week that BBC bosses and the show’s judges were left “raging” by the incident, saying Brendan had broken strict royal protocol.
It was then suggested the royal dance was the real reason Brendan was sacked from Strictly last month.
Gasps
But last night his spokeswoman hit back, saying: “I can confirm that these assertions are absolutely, categorically untrue.
“There was no from the BBC.”
The Duchess had been hosting a tea dance as president of the National Osteoporosis Society to highlight the benefits to older people of staying active.
New Zealand-born Brendan, 41, reportedly drew gasps when he danced with Camilla at the event.
He later joked: “I didn’t know if I was breaking protocol or not but I did ask her if it was OK to ask her to dance and she said, ‘I’d love to.’
“I thought somebody such brief was about to grab me by the scruff of the neck and kick me out.”
Fellow Strictly star Janette Manrara has also cast doubt on the claims.
The dancer, married to fellow Strictly professional Aljaz Skorjanec, said of the royal performance: “It was such a beautiful event and the charity that was involved was a beautiful charity and she seemed to really enjoy Strictly and the cast and the dancing.
“I don’t know royal protocol, I don’t know what you can and cannot do necessarily, but I do know that she seemed happy to get a little waltz in there.
“She had a huge smile on her face, she loved meeting all of us and talking about the show.”
Brendan, who has appeared in every series of Strictly since it first aired in 2004, was told by the BBC his contract would not be renewed last month.
He hinted that his decadelong reputation for arguing with the judges was the reason show bosses finally pulled the plug.
The axing came just months after he was branded “unprofessional and disrespectful” following an ugly verbal clash with new head judge Shirley Ballas live on air.
After his dismissal, he said: “It’s actually quite hard to talk about. They’ve made an editorial decision to not have me back on the show. I’m a little bit in shock. I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it.”
Speculation
On his combative nature, he said: “Some do like it, some don’t. I love that side of the show. I like being a character on the show.”
Brendan is married to British model Zoe Hobbs and the couple have a five-year-old daughter, Aurelia. They are expecting a second child later this year.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to grow over the future of show favourite Anton du Beke, who has also been an ever-present on Strictly, after the BBC refused to confirm his status for the next series.
A source told the Daily Express last night: “He’s still waiting for the call.”