When Brendan Cole announced in January that he wouldn’t be returning to Strictly Come Dancing, a lot of people expressed their sympathy for the 41-year-old dancer.
The New Zealander revealed on Lorraine that the BBC wouldn’t be renewing his contract after 15 years on the show, and admitted that he was feeling “emotional” about the whole thing.
But it seems that not everyone is prepared to comfort Brendan, and Craig Revel Horwood (who else?) has come out with a few strong words for the departing star.
The acid-tongued judge told his former sparring partner that he should be “grateful” for what Strictly gave him, and even claimed that the show will be “better” now that Brendan has departed.
Speaking at the launch of the Meatloaf musical Bat Out Of Hell in London’s West End, Craig, 53, said: “Strictly will be better without Brendan.
“The show’s done him wonders. It’s done us all wonders. It’s been fantastic.
“How many dancers in their life get a job that will last 15 years? Not many. Be grateful.”
As well as appearing together on Strictly, Craig and Brendan have previously been fellow judges on the New Zealand equivalent of the show, Dancing With The Stars.
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And last year, Brendan insisted that the two celebrities had a good relationship.
He told the East Anglian Daily Times: “I love Craig – I love his way on the telly.
“I don’t always agree with what he says, but at the same time he’s probably the judge I agree with the most on many occasions. We work really well together.
“And we made good entertainment down in New Zealand – it was handbags at dawn. The very next day, we’d be sitting on the waterfront having a beer together and laughing in the sunshine.”
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But whether Brendan sees Craig’s latest comments as ‘handbags’ remains to be seen.
One person who’ll definitely be sad to see the back of the New Zealander is fellow dancer Anton Du Beke.
After Brendan’s exit from Strictly was announced, Anton – who’s also been on the show since the beginning – admitted he was “heartbroken” over the news.
Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, the 51-year-old said: “I was heartbroken for him – for me a little bit as well. I’m going to miss him enormously, I can’t begin to tell you.
“I’ve known Brendan for a long time anyway, and we’ve been friends for many, many years. Being on the show together was lovely for me. You’ve got a brothers-in-arms sort of thing.”
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