Strictly no more ballroom bad boy antics for changed man Brendan Cole

It’s a family affair now for Strictly Come Dancing dancer Brendan Cole.

For years he was known as the bad boy of Strictly. With a scathing retort as fast as his quickstep and a feisty nature that spiced up shows, Brendan Cole was as edgy as the family-friendly programme allows.

Add in his romantic links to a bevy of beauties and gossip about his impressive list of celebrity dance partners, and maybe the naughty label was justified.

But these are changed days for the dancer from Christchurch in New Zealand.

This year, after a decade of Strictly Come Dancing and having appeared in all 11 series, Brendan has a different outlook on life. That, he says, is all down to his family.

In 2010, two years after they met at a birthday party, Brendan and model Zoe Hobbs married in front of fellow Strictly stars and Sir Bruce Forsyth. The couple had a daughter, Aurelia, on Christmas Day 2012.

Now that he realises everything he does and says reflects not just on him but on his family, his priorities and attitudes have changed.

“You change as you grow older. I’m 37 and I’m not the same way I was when I was 25,” he admitted.

“The worst thing I could do is embarrass my wife and child and think how bad they would feel because of something I did or said.

“It doesn’t matter when you’re on your own, but that focus changes over time. That’s the same for everyone, not just me.

“Now, everything is about crafting a life for a child and not being selfish. In the old days I would maybe fancy going for a pint after work, but now I get home for my little one.”

Last week, former Director of Communications at the BBC, Ed Williams, expressed concern that shows like Strictly could be reaching the end of their natural lives.

Brendan said: “We know everything has a shelf life but right now it continues getting bigger and better.

“We all believe in it and I understand why it’s so popular. There’s a magic about it. It’s good old-fashioned entertainment.

“I sometimes pinch myself and wonder why I’m still involved obviously someone likes me!”

Handling the level of fame that suddenly came his way was tough.

He explains: “In the beginning it was very difficult. I wasn’t ready for it, although I don’t think you ever can be.

“But being in the spotlight usually grows over time, whereas I was thrown into it and had to see how I would handle it, which I usually did.

“I know how lucky I am. I firmly believe we get to where we are in life through 50% hard work and 50% luck.”

And he insists he has no regrets about his perceived mouthing off.

“It’s nice to have a niche. I’m not scared to put it out there and I think it’s good to be controversial, rather than a wallflower. But with age you learn to pick the battles you know you can win.”

It seems there have been one or two battles with Strictly partners over the years and Brendan admits the biggest concern is wondering how he’ll get on with them.

“It doesn’t matter if they can dance because you can teach that. But you need to get on as seven or eight hours a day are spent with that person and a relationship needs to be formed. If you don’t gel, it’s tough.

“I didn’t get on with all of them. It’s 50-50 I’m just a very good actor!

“I got along really well with Lisa Snowdon, Kelly Brook and Natasha Kaplinsky, and the last series with Sophie Ellis-Bextor was just phenomenal. I’ll be hard pushed to better that.

“We had a great connection and we enjoyed every day. There wasn’t one cross word between us and, when it all comes together like that, it’s inspiring.

“But I’ve had a few rough ones it’s the nature of the beast. I’m not telling you who they are though!”

For the record, Brendan’s other partners on the show have been Sarah Manners, Fiona Phillips, Claire King, Jo Wood, Michelle Williams, Lulu and Victoria Pendleton.

It was in May 2004 that the first series of Strictly came to our screens.

Brendan was paired with newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and their smouldering on-screen chemistry helped them win. It remains his only Strictly title, although he has reached the final with Lisa Snowdon and, in the most recent series, with Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

It was around the time of the first series that his eight-year relationship with fiance and dance partner Camilla Dallerup came to an end.

Remembering the first series, he said: “When you look back at it you wouldn’t believe it’s the same show.

“The production values have increased, the budget has increased it has developed and grown so much.”

The life of a professional dancer makes it difficult to

be home as much as he would like especially in Strictly season.

“The Strictly schedule is ridiculously hard. It’s early starts and late nights.

“That’s why during the last series I’d get out of bed an hour-and-a-half earlier, so I could feed my daughter and change her nappy. It was hard work but I’m glad I did it, otherwise I’d never have seen her.

“My wife was almost a single parent for four months too and that’s not fair on her.”

Brendan is currently on the road starring in his own show, Licence to Thrill, a 48-date tour around the UK.

The tour involves seven performances in Scotland and one in Glasgow, the birthplace of Brendan’s late father Eddie, who passed away in 2010.

Surely such a schedule must make it even harder to spend time with his family?

“It’s not easy being away from them, but that’s the job and lifestyle I have,” he continued.

“But, you know, it’s something people everywhere have to deal with folk have to go away with their jobs.

“When I’m on the road and at a venue within a couple of hours of home, I’ll drive back afterwards.

“From April to July, I have time at home and I treasure that. Other professions don’t get that luxury.”

Brendan was just six when he started dance lessons.

“It was my mum who made me do it and that’s all there was to it,” he laughed.

“I had lots of jobs before I became a professional dancer I was a cleaner in the Hard Rock Caf in Denmark, I worked in warehouses, sold insurance and built homes.”

He says he didn’t receive stick on the building sites when the other workers discovered he was a dancer.

“I’m one of the lads when it suits, but I always found that as long as you’re good at your job, people don’t say anything.”

And good at his job he certainly is, as he currently plays to packed theatres across the country.

With a cast of 14 musicians and six world-class dancers including his brother Scott the two-hour extravaganza takes in an array of styles.

“It’s been amazing so far. We’re having a ball and receiving a great response from the audience. I host the evening as well, so I barely leave the stage.

“It’s a very demanding tour and is tough on the body, but I love what I do. I have two phenomenal jobs.

“With Strictly, I’m a small part of a big show, but here it’s my job to make sure people come out and enjoy it.

“It fills me with pride.”

And as for the next series of Strictly?

“The plan is to be involved if they ask me, of course!”

Brendan plays Aberdeen Music Hall, Inverness Eden Court Theatre, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre, Dundee Caird Hall and Edinburgh Festival Theatre between March 11 and 17.