DanceTalk

Live, unjudged and personal Brendan Cole tells Cheryl Angear about life between “Strictly” sessions and shows new aspects of his personality

fter winning the first series something that the audience will ‘Strictly’ as well but only in a nice with , walk out afterwards thinking ‘I’ve way. It’s more just showing my ABrendan Cole danced been part of an experience’ rather personality: this is what I am.” professionally through every one than ‘that was a nice show’. You Brendan plans a bit of everything of the seven series of the BBC’s know? A bit more personal.” – dancing, chatting, even – “”. This year There will be a 14-piece band “a spot where the audience can he was paired with Jo Wood (they and six dancers, four of them actually get on their feet and do were the sixth couple to be voted ex-“Strictly”, including Nicole something just in their own chairs off, after dancing the samba), and Cutler. Brendan reserves the if they can’t come to the stage”. he says of his time dancing with highest praise for her, saying: One of the things you might her: “Jo was brilliant. I absolutely “She’s honestly one of the best not have been expecting was loved it. Obviously we were never dancers the world has ever a bit of singing. “You’re going going to win it – we were not seen. She’s just a phenomenal to be singing with the band?” the best dancers out there – but, dancer. By far the best girl I asked. “Yes. I was in a show for the most part, we both had a I’ve ever danced with.” called ‘Just the Two of Us’ a fantastic time. When you’re not Live and Unjudged has been couple of years back for the the best there’s no pressure to a year in the making, with credit BBC and I loved it. I loved the continue that high standard so for the title going to Brendan’s experience and if I wasn’t a you just do what you can and fiancée Zoe Hobbs. And the title dancer I’d probably want to be enjoy it. We loved it.” really is significant. “Live and a singer.” In fact Brendan came unjudged, baby,” laughs Brendan. second with his professional here is, of course, more to During “Strictly”, his passion partner . “I’m TBrendan than professional for dance sometimes resulted doing a couple of numbers with dancing. In his new show he in heated exchanges with the the band, something a little bit invites you to get to know other judges, so does that mean that different and I want the audience facets of his personality. “I wanted all the illegal lifts and moves to do something a bit more that got him into so much hot Above, Brendan Cole. personal rather than just a dance water on “Strictly” will be there? Photograph by Joby Rawlins, show. It’s more of ‘An Evening “All the illegal things will be in www.image1st.co.uk. Right, With’, rather than just two hours there. There will probably be a Brendan on tour. Photograph of dancing. I wanted it to be bit of rubbishing the judges on by Kristina Kashvili

16 Dance Today February 2010

Brendan Cole.indd 16 25/1/10 13:40:55 DanceTalk

...just do what“ you can and enjoy it ”

Dance Today January 2010 17

Brendan Cole.indd 17 21/1/10 12:08:36 DanceTalk

to see me for who I am, not just very hands-on with this project much as we have good banter as a dancer. So, I suppose, I’m which has taken up my entire and it’s quite often quite horrible, trying to put everything in that I year”. Also on the judging panel it’s good fun.” can think of that inspires me.” in New Zealand is “Strictly”’s Brendan also carries out Live and Unjudged also gives Craig Revel-Horwood, and of charity work as and when his Brendan the chance to work their famously rocky on-screen schedule allows. This includes with his brother Scott (three- relationship Brendan says: “It’s two children’s charities: Fight time New Zealand great. Well, Craig and I sitting For Life “they look after kids champion).“It’s another dimension, on the same judging panel is an that are really in dangerous and it’s family. It will be intimate.” life-threatening situations”, and Staging a show with just six The Bubble Foundation UK. dancers has been very difficult I am very much Who does he think might lift the because they all need time for a New Zealander Glitterball? “Well, it’s a tough one costume changes and “to breathe, “ because I always get it wrong. It’s you can’t dance for two hours but England is always down to the popular vote. non-stop. We’d kill ourselves It’s never the person you think. after a day or so”. But he’s happy home. I’m very Everyone thinks Ricky Whittle or and excited by the result, and Ali Bastian, but I actually don’t can’t wait to show you. “We’re much a part of this think it’s going to be either of concentrating on the ballroom them.” (Of course, in the event, and Latin. You know, just the country, my roots Brendan is right: outsider Chris normal ones you see on ‘Strictly’.” are here and have Hollins wins 2009’s Glitterball.) After 14 years living in the ask Brendan what he does been for a very UK, I wonder whether Brendan Iduring the non-“Strictly” season. now considers it home? “I am He’s been working on a Sky One long time very much a New Zealander but show called “Angela Griffin and England is home. I’m getting Friends”; he’s a judge on the interesting one. ”We fight at the married here in six months time New Zealand version of “Strictly”; best of times. We get on very and we’ll start our family here. he has a column for Closer well but we do tend to fight. We My roots are all here: my father magazine; has presented a travel have different opinions, so there’s was Scottish and my mother’s show where he spent time in the always a good banter and a very side is all Geordie, so I’m very South Pacific “for a couple of lively show. New Zealand is very much a part of this country, weeks in a place called Vanuatu”; different from here but we have my roots are here and have and “obviously I’ve been very, a good time on it, Craig and I, as been for a very long time.” l

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Brendan Cole.indd 18 25/1/10 11:43:28