Brendan Cole

Brendan Cole was a professional on *Strictly Come Dancing*. He left the show at the end of Series 15.

## Biography

*Retrieved from bbc.co.uk*

Brendan has been in the show since the beginning, and set the bar high as the first ever winner with partner Natasha Kaplinsky back in Series 1.

"*The Foxtrot is a calm, smooth sexy dance. It just oozes class*"
— Brendan Cole
Since then he has gone on to be paired with the likes of Sarah Manners, Fiona Phillips, Claire King, Kelly Brook, Lisa Snowdon, Jo Wood and Michelle Williams. Brendan and Lisa Snowdon’s Cha Cha Cha to 'Tears Dry On Their Own' in Series 6 is the joint best score for that style to date.

In 2011 despite being knocked out of the competition with partner Lulu in week six, Brendan gallantly stepped in throughout the rest of the series to partner for Holly Valance and Anita Dobson, covering for their injured partners.

In 2012, dancing in tandem with Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton, Brendan survived until week eight.
His run with pop princess Sophie Ellis Bextor in 2013 saw him reach his third Grand Final, eventually taking 4th place. In 2014, Brendan partnered Casualty actress Sunetra Sarker. He and Sunetra were eliminated during the show's Around the World Week in week 10.

In 2015, he only reached week six with partner Kirsty Gallacher, going on to bow out even earlier with songstress Anastacia in 2016. But could he be bound for Series 1 glory again this year? With those killer moves and fiery nature, Brendan might just do it…

**Background**
Brendan was born in New Zealand, moving to the UK at the age of 18. Dance was always his first love, though he did stints as a roofer and a builder on his way to the professional circuit.

Brendan and his then-partner Camilla Dallerup became the New Zealand and Asian Open Professional Champions and were semi-finalists at the International, UK Open, British Open and World Championships.

Brendan’s specialism is Latin American. And not only has he appeared on every series of Strictly Come Dancing to date, he’s also been a judge on the local version of the show in his native New Zealand.

## Strictly Career

### Series 1

In the first and his debut series on *Strictly Come Dancing*, Brendan's celebrity partner was revealed as BBC newsreader and presenter, Natasha Kaplinsky. After a series of top scores upon the leaderboard, he and Kaplinsky ended up winning the show, and becoming the first ever champions. It remains his only win on the show. However, their pairing on the series was controversial when his then-fiancee and fellow professional in the show, Camilla Dallerup had broke their engagement off because of Kaplinsky.

### Series 2

In the second series, he was partnered with *Casualty* actress, Sarah Manners. However, they became the fifth couple to leave the competition, on week 5.

### Series 3

Cole was then paired up with *GMTV* presenter and newsreader, Fiona Phillips for Series 3. Due to shockingly low scores from the judges, including the second lowest total in the show's history (13), and fewest combined votes from the public, he and Phillips were eliminated during the fourth week, leaving in ninth place.

### Series 4

Cole returned to compete on the fourth series in 2006, partnered up with actress Claire King. After weeks of respectable scores and dances, Cole and King were the ninth couple to be eliminated, and were sixth overall.

### Series 5

In Series 5 of the show, Cole's partner was revealed to be model, actress and television presenter, Kelly Brook. Despite reaching week 9, top of the leaderboard twice, and being fan favourites, Brook announced that she would withdraw from the competition, following the sudden death of her father earlier that week. This event left them in sixth place.

### Series 6

For the sixth series in 2008, Cole's celebrity dance partner was announced as television and radio presenter, Lisa Snowdon. Despite receiving high praise from the judges, second on the series' average chart and reaching top of the leaderboard, he and Snowdon became finalists, and were eliminated in third place, having lost out to Rachel Stevens and eventual winner Tom Chambers. This became Cole's second time reaching the finals of the competition. Cole received his first and only three perfect 40s with Snowdon.

### Series 7

Cole partnered up with businesswoman and media personality Jo Wood for Series 7. Since there were twice as many contestants, Wood and Cole didn't get to perform until week 2. They were eliminated on week 6, leaving in eleventh place.

### Series 8

At the beginning of the eighth series in 2010, he was announced to be partnered up with American singer & stage actress, Michelle Williams, famed for being a member of the best-selling girl group Destiny's Child. Despite being in the bottom two three times and variable scores given throughout, she and Cole were eliminated in the seventh week of competition, positioning in ninth place.

#### Scores

1 Cole was absent from the show this week, Ian Waite stepped in to perform with Cole’s celebrity partner, Michelle Williams.

### Series 9

For the ninth series, Cole was announced to be paired with singer-songwriter Lulu. After surviving five weeks during the competition's run, he and Lulu were eliminated on the sixth week results show, and held the position of tenth place.

#### Scores

1 Score given by Jennifer Grey (winner of *Dancing With the Stars*’ eleventh series) who stepped in as guest judge for Goodman.

### Series 10

Cole was announced to return as a professional dancer once again for the tenth series. On the launch show in September 2012, he was partnered up with London Olympic track cyclist, Victoria Pendleton. Together, they competed against another London Olympic athlete, Louis Smith and Flavia Cacace, who eventually were declared the champions of the series. The couple were eliminated on the eighth week of competition, surprisingly landing in eighth place.

### Series 11

In June 2013, it was publicly announced that Cole would return again to compete as a professional on the eleventh series of the show. On the launch show in September, he was partnered with singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. He and Ellis-Bextor successfully reached to the all-female celebrity final, making it Brendan's third time as a finalist. However, the couple received the fewest public votes and therefore, were eliminated into fourth place.

### Series 12

It was officially announced by the BBC that Cole would be returning for Series 12 to compete again as one of the male professional dancers, where he became the dance partner of *Casualty* actress, Sunetra Sarker. He and Sarker were the ninth couple eliminated, during the show's Around the World Week on week 10, landing in seventh place.

#### Scores

1 Score given by guest judge Donny Osmond.

### Series 13

Cole also participated, with television presenter Kirsty Gallacher, in the show's thirteenth series.

### Series 14

In Series 14, Cole was partnered with singer-songwriter, Anastacia. Cole & Anastacia were the fifth couple eliminated, during Halloween Week, landing in ninth place.

#### Scores

1 Cole was injured so his partner, Anastacia, performed with Gorka Marquez

### Series 15

For Series 15, Cole partnered with Good Morning Britain presenter, Charlotte Hawkins. Cole and Hawkins were the third couple eliminated, during Week 4, landing in eleventh place. It was Cole’s last series on the show.

## Trivia

* Up to Series 15, Cole, along with fellow professional Anton du Beke, were the only professionals to compete in every series since the show's creation in 2004; also making them the longest running professionals worldwide.
* Particularly in the third, fourth and fifth series, he has often clashed with the judges over their scoring and comments on his performances. He has on occasion deliberately broken the rules by incorporating illegal lifts into his choreography, and as a result has often been dubbed the "bad boy of *Strictly*".
* Although he is nominally a Latin specialist, Cole was regarded by many as the best in the show at the ballroom dances, particularly when he partnered Lisa Snowdon during Series 6 in 2008.

## Gallery

* Brendan and Natasha's publicity photo (Series 1)
* Brendan and Natasha crowned Series 1 Champions
* Brendan and Sarah's publicity photo (Series 2)
* Brendan and Fiona's publicity photo (Series 3)
* Brendan and Clare's publicity photo (Series 4)
* Brendan and Kelly's publicity photo (Series 5)
* Brendan and Lisa's publicity photo (Series 6
* Brendan and Jo's publicity photo (Series 7)
* Brendan and Michelle's publicity photo (Series 8)
* Brendan and Lulu's publicity photo (Series 9)
* Brendan and Victoria's publicity photo (Series 10)
* Brendan and Sophie's publicity photo (Series 11)
* Brendan and Sunetra's publicity photo (Series 12)
* Brendan and Kirsty's publicity photo (Series 13)
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