Brendan Cole's 'Bitter Old Pro' Reputation Forged by Decades of On-Air Spats

Brendan Cole, who burst onto the scene as the first champion of 'Strictly Come Dancing' in 2004, cultivated a public image as the show's 'bad boy.' His fiery temperament, outspoken criticism of judges, and intense competitiveness initially endeared him to viewers. However, these traits also led to a reputation for being difficult to work with, culminating in his departure from the show in 2018 after 14 years.

Cole's outspoken nature has continued post-'Strictly,' with his recent critique of fellow professional dancer Amy Dowden drawing significant backlash. Dowden, who recently returned to the show after undergoing cancer treatment, was described by Cole as not having "been up to the challenge" after she and her partner became the first to be eliminated in the current series. Cole has since expressed regret, with friend James Jordan suggesting the comments were "blown all out of proportion."

This incident adds to a long list of public spats that have shaped Cole's public persona. Throughout his tenure on 'Strictly,' he was known for having frosty, high-pressure relationships with celebrity partners. He openly acknowledged these difficulties, stating, "I've had a few rough ones; I didn't particularly like them, they didn't like me, but you push through."

His pairing with TV presenter Fiona Phillips was particularly contentious, with Cole describing her dancing as "pathetic." Phillips later retaliated, calling Cole a "rough old taskmaster" and suggesting his axing from the show was "karma."

Actress Claire King also described Cole as "intolerant" and "impatient," claiming he "shattered her confidence" and made her feel "worthless." She told a newspaper that Cole "had no faith in me" and "said some really nasty things about me in the press."

Singer Lulu, Cole's partner in season nine, also had a difficult experience. Cole stated he was "absolutely delighted" to be eliminated, while Lulu later admitted she worked with someone "with whom I wasn't really compatible."

Perhaps Cole's most significant public dispute was with head judge Shirley Ballas. Their confrontations, which intensified after Cole publicly criticized one of his partner Charlotte Hawkins' performances, are widely believed to have contributed to his dismissal from the show. An insider told The Sun at the time that Cole was "clearly very bitter" and that his interactions with Ballas were "on a whole other level" and "very childish."

Cole has defended his past behavior, suggesting that 'Strictly' only presented "one side" of him for 15 series, a narrative that he found "tiring" and "not me."

Beyond 'Strictly,' Cole has also been critical of other programs. In 2019, he called 'Dancing On Ice' judge Jason Gardiner "vicious and nasty." He also accused 'Strictly' of copying ideas from his stage show "Show Man" after observing a dance to a song featured in his production.

More recently, Cole appeared on 'The Jeremy Vine Show' to discuss declining viewership figures for 'Strictly,' attributing it to a lack of household names, the new presenting team, and the show's length. He admitted, "People will call me a bitter old pro, I probably am. I just have an opinion on the show and am heavily invested in it."

Following the controversy surrounding his comments about Amy Dowden, Cole is reportedly "gutted" that his remarks were perceived negatively. His friend James Jordan stated that Cole did not intend his comments to be taken in that way and that he is "quite upset about the whole thing." Jordan elaborated that Cole was asked specifically about the dancing and not about Dowden's health battle, and that the situation has been "blown all out of proportion."