Brendan Cole

Brendan Cole (born 23 April 1976) is a New Zealand ballroom dancer, specialising in Latin American dancing. He is most famous for appearing as a professional dancer on the BBC One show, Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 to 2017. From 2005 to 2009, he was a judge on the New Zealand version of the show, Dancing with the Stars.

Early life and career Cole was born in 1976, in Christchurch, New Zealand. As a child, he won the Juvenile, Junior and Youth Champion of New Zealand. a fellow contestant on the BBC's earlier long-running show Come Dancing, as amateurs from 1996 to 1999, and professional from 2002 to 2004.

In 2009, Cole appeared on the New Zealand travel show Intrepid Journeys, however, during a hunting lesson filmed in Vanuatu, he was shown killing and eating a chicken, prompting international news coverage.

In October 2019, he competed in The X Factor: Celebrity alongside Jeremy Edwards.

Personal life In 2010, Cole married Zoe Hobbs, a British model, who gave birth to their first child, daughter Aurelia, on Christmas Day 2012. In March 2018, Zoe gave birth to their son Danté. The family live in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (2015).

In 2022, he appeared as a contestant on the fourteenth series of Dancing on Ice and was partnered with Vanessa Bauer. Cole reached the final and placed second.

Dancing with the Stars (NZ) Cole has judged New Zealand's version of Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars, 2005–2009. In the years when Craig Revel Horwood was one of the other judges the two men's opinions and scores were frequently markedly different.

Strictly Come Dancing Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance Dance Partner Highest Partner Lowest American Smooth Sophie Ellis-Bextor 36 Kirsty Gallacher 23 Argentine Tango Lisa Snowdon 35 Sophie Ellis-Bextor 32 Cha-Cha-Cha 40 Charlotte Hawkins 12 Charleston Sophie Ellis-Bextor 36 Kirsty Gallacher 17 Foxtrot Lisa Snowdon 40 Fiona PhillipsJo Wood 20 Jive Kelly Brook 36 Fiona Phillips 16 Paso Doble Natasha KaplinskySophie Ellis-Bextor 35 Jo Wood 20 Quickstep Lisa Snowdon 40 AnastaciaVictoria Pendleton 30 Rumba Natasha Kaplinsky 36 Fiona Phillips 13 Salsa Sunetra Sarker 27 Kirsty Gallacher 20 Samba Natasha Kaplinsky 37 Jo Wood 14 Showdance Natasha KaplinskySophie Ellis-Bextor 35 - - Tango Kelly BrookLisa Snowdon 35 Charlotte Hawkins 17 Viennese Waltz Sophie Ellis-Bextor 39 Jo Wood 23 Waltz Lisa Snowdon Fiona Phillips 11

Cole appeared in the first 15 series BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, until announcing in January 2018 that his contract had not been renewed.

In the 2004 debut series of Strictly Come Dancing, Cole's celebrity partner was BBC newsreader and presenter Natasha Kaplinsky. They went on to win the show.

In the second series, he was partnered with Casualty actress Sarah Manners. However, they became the fifth couple to leave the competition. During the 2004 Christmas Special Cole again partnered Kaplinsky and they came in second place, dancing a Foxtrot.

In Series 3 Cole was then paired with GMTV presenter and newsreader Fiona Phillips. They were eliminated during the fourth week, coming ninth. Cole then appeared in the 2005 Christmas Special with Rachel Hunter, dancing a Rumba.

He returned to compete on the fourth series, where he partnered with actress Claire King. They were the ninth couple to be eliminated.

In the fifth series, Cole partnered Kelly Brook. They withdrew in week 9 due to the death of Brook's father.

For the sixth series, Cole's dance partner was presenter Lisa Snowdon. They reached the finals but were eliminated in third place. Cole and Snowdon danced again in the 2008 Christmas special, performing a quickstep.

In Series 7 Cole's partner was businesswoman and media personality Jo Wood. They were eliminated in week 6.

In the eighth series, Cole's partner was American singer Michelle Williams; they were eliminated in the seventh week of competition.

For the ninth series, Cole was paired with singer Lulu. They were eliminated on the sixth week. Cole also stepped in to partner Holly Valance and Anita Dobson during weeks 7 and 9 respectively due to their original partners being injured.

For the tenth series, Cole was partnered with Olympic track cyclist, Victoria Pendleton. They were eliminated in the eighth week of competition.

In series 11, Cole partnered singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, reaching the final and being eliminated in fourth place.

For the twelfth series, his dance partner was Casualty actress Sunetra Sarker. They were the ninth couple to be eliminated.

Cole competed with television presenter Kirsty Gallacher in the show's thirteenth series and was eliminated in week 6. Following his elimination with Gallacher, Cole entered the Children in Need special which he won with actress Laura Main. Cole also took part in the 2015 Christmas Special, where he and series 11 winner Abbey Clancy danced a waltz.

For the show's fourteenth series, Cole was partnered with American singer Anastacia. They were placed in the bottom two in week 2, but an injury sustained by Anastacia meant they were unable to take part in the dance-off and the decision was referred to the public vote. Anastacia and Cole polled more votes than Melvin Odoom and Janette Manrara, and were allowed to stay in the competition. They were eventually eliminated in week 6.

In 2017 Cole returned for the fifteenth series, paired with Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins. They were eliminated in week 4. He took part in that year's Christmas Special, partnering Katie Derham: the couple won the event. Strictly Come Dancing performances Series 1 – with celebrity dance partner Natasha Kaplinsky Series average: 33.0

Series 2 – with celebrity dance partner Sarah Manners Series average: 26.8

Series 3 – with celebrity dance partner Fiona Phillips Series average: 15.0

Series 4 with celebrity dance partner Claire King Series average: 24.9

Series 5 – with celebrity dance partner Kelly Brook Series average: 33.0

Series 6 – with celebrity dance partner Lisa Snowdon Series average: 34.8

Series 7 – with celebrity dance partner: Jo Wood Series average: 18.8

Series 8 – with celebrity dance partner Michelle Williams Series average: 26.3

Series 9 – with celebrity dance partner Lulu Series average: 24.8

Series 10 – with celebrity dance partner Victoria Pendleton Series average: 24.1

Series 11 – with celebrity dance partner Sophie Ellis-Bextor Series average: 33.3

Series 12 – with celebrity dance partner Sunetra Sarker Series average: 28.4

Series 13 – with celebrity dance partner Kirsty Gallacher Series Average 21.7

Series 14 – with celebrity dance partner Anastacia Series Average 26.5

Due to Cole being too ill to dance on Week 5, Anastacia danced with Gorka Márquez.

Series 15 – with celebrity dance partner Charlotte Hawkins Series average: 17.5

Charity work Cole has supported several charity functions including children's anti-bullying campaigning group Act Against Bullying.