Brendan Cole

Brendan has been in the show since the beginning and won the first series with partner Natasha Kaplinsky.

Since then he has gone on to be paired with the likes of Fiona Phillips, Claire King, Kelly Brook and Lisa Snowdon. Brendan has had six different professional partners on the show and is currently paired with Natalie Lowe.

In 2011 despite being knocked out of the competition with partner Lulu in week six. Brendan gallantly stepped-in throughout the rest of the series to partner for Holly Valance and Anita Dobson, covering for their injured partners.

Background

Brendan grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand. He lived with his mum, his older brother Scott (who teaches dance in London) and his younger sister Vanessa (who runs a dance school in New Zealand).

In 1996 he met Camilla Dallerup and they became a couple both on and off the dance floor for the next eight years. After four years competing together as amateurs they were offered the chance to teach in Hong Kong, which they took and turned professional.

Once professional, Brendan and Camilla became the New Zealand and Asian Open Professional Champions and were semi-finalists at the International, UK Open, British Open and World Championships.

Brendan married model Zoe Hobbs last year, and his former Strictly partner Jo Wood was a guest at the wedding.

Not content with dancing, Brendan has been on the judging panel for New Zealand’s version of Strictly with Craig Revel Horwood. He was also a guest judge on an episode of Britain’s Next Top Model.

Trivia

Brendan has recently been getting into team sports and loves to play cricket and football as well as golf and tennis.

As a keen racer, Brendan has raced at Silverstone a few times for charity.