Brendan Cole has been Strictly’s bad boy since the show started in 2004. He’s responsible for the ‘relationship curse’ (after an alleged affair with fellow dancer Natasha Kaplinsky) and has let loose countless times in face-offs with Len Goodman, most notably telling the retired head judge: “You should have gone to Specsavers.”
With such a scandalous track record and 34 years dancing experience, surely no one else is better qualified to preside over the ballroom? Brendan seems to think so.
The controversial dancer talked to the Sun about his ambitions for the top job and why he and pal Anton Du Beke are best qualified to replace 72-year-old retiree, Len Goodman.
Brendan said: “I don’t think it’s going to be open and shut. I think they’ll go through a process like the BBC do with all of their big decisions.
“It makes sense for people to speculate it would be either Anton or myself because we’ve been there from the start.”
Brendan certainly has the necessary experience after five years on the judging panel of Strictly in his native New Zealand.
He added: “I’ve done judging in a different country. And if you look at Anton and myself we’re definitely good at what we do and what you need to do to create good entertainment.
“I don’t agree with a lot of what the judges say — I’ve got 34 years of dance experience.
“I got to the top of my game and I didn’t do it the easy way — I worked my a**e off to get there, so I’ve done the hard work.”
The only thing standing in his way might be Brendan himself, given rumors that Strictly insiders find him ‘arrogant’ and ‘cocky’. He admits there’s always been tension between the pros, but now key rivals James Jordan and Kristina Rihanoff have left, the remaining professionals may be a little more welcoming.
He explained: “I don’t see myself as cocky, I see myself as confident. If people see me as arrogant it’s a shame because I’m not.
“It’s like being called the bad boy of ballroom. I was called that for the first few years of Strictly because I was very outspoken.”
Brendan’s relationship with Len was always rocky but the Kiwi dancer claims to have a lot of respect for the outgoing judge: “He’s irreplaceable. Whoever steps into his shoes, they’ve got to make their own thing of it.”
As for the other judges? Brendan is surprisingly good mates with the other man hotly tipped to take Len’s crown - Craig Revel Horwood.
He joked: “We kind of pretend to hate each other; it’s very easy to do, he’s a very unattractive man.”
Brendan said Bruno Tonioli is very clever despite acting "as mad as a box of frogs on the panel".
And the lovely Darcey Bussell is worth fighting to get next to.
Brendan confessed: “I’ve always had a bit of a crush on her. I saw her in a room at the Royal Albert Hall and it’s one of the first and only people I’ve ever been in awe of.”
Wow. Quite an admission from the man insiders call arrogant. Will Darcey fight in Brendan’s corner? Or will she become Strictly’s first female head judge?
With a new live show ("All Night Long") waiting in the wings, Brendan remains philosophical about his connection to Strictly.
He said: “You don’t know when you’re going to want to hang up your shoes — or when they’re going to want you to hang up your shoes.
“There has always been a magic with Strictly. I hope they want Anton and I to keep our spots for a long time.”
Strictly Come Dancing starts September 3 on BBC One at 6.50pm.
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