Brendan Cole axed from Strictly Come Dancing after 13 years on show

The professional had been on the show since the very beginning
Natasha Sporn30 January 2018

Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has revealed that he has been dropped from the show after 13 years.

The New Zealand-born dancer, 41, has been a regular on the show since the very first series in May 2004, which he won with broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky.

He told Lorraine Kelly: “It’s quite, actually, hard to talk about. The BBC haven’t renewed my contract. We get contracted year upon year. 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.

"I have had 15 incredible series on the show, I’m very proud of the whole show, they’re a great team. I’m disappointed. It’s very hard to talk about. It’s a recent decision.”

Brendan Cole made a huge revelation about his Strictly future
ITV / Lorraine

When asked by Kelly if he would have liked to do another series, Cole replied: "Yeah [I still wanted to be part of it]. I’ve always said as long as I’ve got a passion for it I want to be there. My passion is still very much there. I’ll miss being part of the team. I’ll miss being a Strictly dancer.

"It’s kind of weird to imagine yourself not having that as your… I do a lot of other things of course, but the main thing I’ve been known for is to be a dancer on Strictly. Very odd to even say this out loud. It feels quite raw," he added.

Brendan Cole - In pictures

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The professional said he will still watch the show to support his friends but will "miss his gang", as the professionals are a close knit group of pals.

The BBC Strictly press team later tweeted: "We'd like to thank @BrendanCole 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."

Recent series have seen Cole reach the final with Lisa Snowden and Sophie Ellis-Bextor and was paired with Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins is the most recent series.

Cole’s married model Zoe Hobbs in 2010 and the couple have a five –year-old daughter Aurelia together.

The celebrity couple recently revealed they are expecting a second child in 2018.

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