Shirley Ballas responds to a former Strictly Come Dancing professional who was let go after a disagreement with the head judge. Brendan Cole, who exited the BBC dance competition in 2018 amid claims of being hard to work with, hinted that his clash with Shirley might have influenced his departure.
During an interview on ITV’s Lorraine back then, the New Zealand-born ballroom dancer, a fixture on the show since its inception in 2004, expressed shock at the decision. He revealed that an “editorial decision” was made for him not to return, leaving him feeling emotional and disappointed.
In a separate interview with the Daily Mail, Brendan reflected on a critical moment when Shirley criticized a dance he performed with Charlotte Hawkins. While acknowledging uncertainty about how it was handled on air, he denied being aggressive and disagreed with the feedback, mentioning advice from Bruno Tonioli to be more respectful.
Admitting regret over using the phrase “I will, my dear” in response to Shirley’s tango advice, Brendan clarified that it was unintentionally patronizing. He emphasized his care for Charlotte and the pressure of staying on the show as a less competitive couple.
Shirley later addressed Brendan’s actions in her 2025 book, “Best Foot Forward,” revealing his skepticism towards her before taking over as head judge. She recounted an incident where Brendan seemingly belittled her on a TV show, setting a negative tone for their interactions.
Speculating that Brendan may have sought the head judge role himself and felt overlooked, Shirley accused him of attempting to undermine her authority. She highlighted the pivotal “my dear” incident in week three of the competition as a tipping point in their strained relationship.
Catch Shirley on Saturday Kitchen Live on BBC One today from 9:45 am to 11:15 am.