Brendan Cole axed from Strictly Come Dancing after claiming Shirley Ballas tried to bed him
Outspoken professional dancer Brendan Cole made the shock claim to pals and it played a part in his exit from the show
STRICTLY’S Brendan Cole was axed after claiming he once snubbed Shirley Ballas’s bid to bed him.
He told show pals Shirley, 57, “tried it on” before he turned pro.
Kiwi Brendan, 41, claimed the BBC show head judge “had it in” for him — and said it was behind their bitter on-air clash last year.
A show insider said: “He was against Shirley from the start and kept slagging her off behind the scenes.
“Brendan bragged that she tried it on with him as his teacher years ago.
"He claimed she once flirted with him. He said she had no idea what she was talking about and constantly questioned her judgement.
“However, Shirley wasn’t doing anything of the kind. She was simply calling it as she saw it. She was entirely professional throughout.”
Brendan also blasted her over last September’s on-air row — in which she attacked his tango with TV newsgirl Charlotte Hawkins.
He said: “I don’t know if that was handled right.
“If you disagree with someone, as I did, you have the right to say what I did.
“I didn’t get aggressive. I said, ‘I disagree’. Anybody can watch the footage and make up their own mind.”
And Brendan, on Strictly from its 2004 start, said of his exit: “One of the saddest bits is it will go on and I won’t be a part of it. It’s like not being to the party.”
Latin dance queen Shirley has previously told how she met him in 1997.
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She said: “I’ve known Brendan for years.
"He was fiery and feisty but I could keep him in check, so I’m not worried about him at all.”
Last night sources insisted she totally denied his claim.
A spokesperson for Brendan Cole said: “There is no truth to the story whatsoever - Brendan has the utmost respect for Shirley.”
Clash over telly tango
BRENDAN’S anger at Shirley spilled on to the screen.
She said there was “rise and fall” in his tango with Charlotte Hawkins — and urged him to play it back.
Brendan, who disputed her claim, replied rudely: “I will, my dear, I will.”
Judge Bruno Tonioli bac-ked Shirley, telling him he should be “more respectful”.