Strictly Come Dancing's Brendan Cole and James Jordan reveal why they left the BBC show
Strictly Come Dancing's Brendan Cole and James Jordan were never shy to share their opinions while on the BBC show.
Brendan Cole and James Jordan say speaking their minds contributed to them leaving Strictly Come Dancing.
The pair said their unfiltered views put them at odds with the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance show's bosses.
On Thursday's (20.08.26's) episode of James and Brendan's Manopause podcast, the latter, whose 13 years on Strictly Come Dancing ended in 2017 after the BBC did not renew his contract, citing an "editorial decision", in January 2018, said he was overheard calling head judge Shirley Ballas, 65, the C-word.
Per The Sun, Brendan, 50, recalled: "I said that Shirley Ballas was a **** three times.
"Strictly wanted my assurances that I wasn’t going to make a remark like that again.
"I wasn’t on air, it wasn’t recorded, it was about somebody. It wasn’t to their face, but I couldn’t turn around to them and say, ‘OK, I’ll give you my assurances that that won’t happen.'
"For me, it was about staying true to myself.
"I don’t condone the C-word. And at the time, I apologised for using it, but I wasn’t going to backtrack on it and say, 'Well, it wasn’t true,' because I thought it was true.
"Listen, I love Shirley. I think she’s a great judge. At the time, I didn’t think she was particularly nice to us, and I vocalised that.
"Some would argue it cost me the gig. I would argue that I look at the positives and go, 'I had the best three or four years of my working career post-Strictly, thanks to Strictly.'"
Brendan knew his days on Strictly Come Dancing were numbered after a senior executive who "really loved" him quit.
The entertainer said: "There was somebody above the exec producer who really loved me. And she said to me, 'As long as I’m here, Brendan, you’ll always have a place on the show.'
"And then the year before I left, she came up to me and said, 'Brendan, I’m leaving to Channel 4.'
"I knew my days were over."
Brendan fears a Strictly Come Dancing producer blacklisted him from big TV shows following a fiery backstage clash with her.
He snapped at the woman for "pushing" his partner, and inaugural winner, former newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, 53, to the studio in 2004, and Brendan thinks that the producer has sought revenge in her role as a booker for big programmes.
The ballroom dancer said: "Back in series one, I got a bit hot-headed with one of the producers because she was pushing my celeb to get out on the floor.
"In the end, I just went, 'Enough,' and slammed the door in her face.
"That was probably one of the biggest mistakes I made because she is now the booker for one of the biggest programmes on television, Celebrity Traitors.
"I could pretty much guarantee I’ll never be on that show."
Meanwhile, James - who finished third with 76-year-old actress-and-comedienne Pamela Stephenson in 2010 - said his outspoken views were a reason he was asked to leave Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 after seven years.
The 48-year-old star explained: "We used to do beautiful, authentic ballroom and Latin dancing - which is essentially what made Strictly what it is today.
"And then all of a sudden, I’m doing group dances to YMCA.
"The producer came up to me and said, 'What do you think of the group dance? I think it’s really good.'
"I said, 'I think it’s s***, and it’s an insult to me and my profession.'
"Don’t ask for my opinion unless you want it. I was always very outspoken when I was on Strictly. I was always sticking up for the professional dancers.
"I eventually got asked to leave the show because I was maybe too outspoken, and I was pointing things out that they didn’t want to be pointed out. But I want the best for the show."
James - who confirmed earlier this month that he and former Strictly Come Dancing pro Ola Jordan, 43, have split after more than 20 years of marriage - added: "We speak very candidly about Strictly, but we loved being a part of it. It gave us a platform. We wouldn’t be here now doing this if it wasn’t for Strictly.
"But there were certain things that happened to us that were maybe not fair."
