Strictly Come Dancing legend Bruce Forsyth's 'true behaviour' on show exposed by former star
Former Strictly Come Dancing 'bad boy' Brendan Cole, who was axed as a dancer from the show in 2018, has opened up about Bruce's true colours behind the scenes.
Former Strictly Come Dancing "bad boy" Brendan Cole has opened up about the truth behind what led to him being axed as a dancer from the programme in 2018 but has also revealed there was one other huge star who was badly behaved. Brendan starred as a professional dancer on Strictly for almost a decade and a half before he was dismissed amid claims he was too difficult to work with.
The 49-year old, who won the first series back in 2004 with Natasha Kaplinsky, admitted: "Yes, I was lippy, and only 28 when I started. I was fresh out of a competitive environment and very headstrong. A bit of a d*** to be honest!
"I wanted everything and I was desperate to have success and prove myself. I had this bravado that I had to prove my worth and that lasted for a fair few years. I am genuinely a nice person to be around."
Despite his hot headed temper, Brendan often found himself acting as the "spokesperson" for backstage clashes on the dance show which led to him getting a bad reputation. Reflecting on this, Brendan opened up on what really happened during the behind the scenes arguments in a new interview with Betway.
He said: "Amongst the Strictly pros, I was often the one leading from the front of many of the situations we faced. We would all discuss our issues together and then somehow I would be the one going forward with the message with the troops behind me.
"If there was an argument going on, I would be the one to break it up. I often had a clear head and a good way of settling things.
"Unfortunately, I was often seen as quite outspoken (which I definitely was at times) but most of the time I was just the spokesperson for the group.”
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In addition to this, he also claims there were a few other surprisingly grumpy Strictly Come Dancing icons on the show at the same time as him - one of them being late TV legend Bruce Forsyth.
After gushing over how much of an 'amazing person' Bruce was, he claimed that the former Strictly presenter 'didn't always behave brilliantly."
Brendan said: "It was amazing to spend time with big names, like Sir Bruce Forsyth. He was an amazing person to be on the screen with because he was such an icon of television.
"I got to watch him work. He didn't always behave brilliantly. He was a grumpy old man at times, especially when he was tired but he was the master."
He also named dropped late ballroom dancer and Strictly judge Len Goodman, who he claimed was the "exact same".
He said: "They could both be grumpy old men. With Len, there was always a good energy between us. I loved him. Even if it was a bit argumentative on the show, there was always a handshake and a bit of a wink at the end of it, which I loved. Mutual respect.”
Opening up about whether or not he would return to Strictly as the BBC show is currently preparing for its 23rd season, Brendan said: "I’m the kind of person who would never say never. I could not do what Aljaž (Škorjanec) did, which was to go back as a dancer after being kicked off the show.
"For me, I’d hate to say no to something but regret saying it. I’m an optimist and open to seeing what happens. Stranger things have happened but I’m too long in the tooth to be a dancer on the show anymore.
"I did go back to the ballroom for the show’s 20th special and it was lovely to go back and see the old crew.”