Strictly Come Dancing judges gave bosses ultimatum ‘get rid of Brendan Cole or there’s no show’ after he ‘disrespected’ Shirley Ballas
THE Strictly Come Dancing judges gave bosses an ultimatum to "get rid of Brendan Cole or there's no show "after he "disrespected" Shirley Ballas.
The Sun Online can reveal the panel forced bosses to drop the dancer following his on-air spat with the new head judge.
Brendan - who has been on Strictly since the show started in 2004 - confirmed this week that his contract with the BBC has not been renewed and he will no longer be a part of the TV talent series.
The Sun Online can now reveal exactly why he lost his place in the line-up - and the on-air spat with Shirley was the moment the judges decided he could not continue on the show.
A insider told us: "It was the final nail in his coffin. That was the moment when they decided they'd had enough.
"The judges felt he was putting her down publicly and he thought he knew better than the head judge.
"They thought it was totally disrespectful."
Brendan had been hoping to land a role as a judge after Len Goodman's retirement, and he was disappointed when the empty seat was filled by Shirley instead.
The source told us the judges felt he never got over the snub - and even began referring to the new head judge as "Queen Shirley".
He had a blazing row with her backstage over claims she underscored Mollie King on a routine and then stopped talking to her completely when the show was off air.
The feud reached boiling point when he later took out his grievances on Shirley in front of the nation and it prompted the judges to give show bosses an ultimatum.
The source said: "He went for the role of judge but Shirley got it.
"He never gave her a chance. He referred to her as Queen Shirley."
The insider revealed Brendan did not say sorry to Shirley after the heated exchange, and after years of backstage rows the judges insisted he had to go.
The source added: "He sulked rather than apologised after the show.
"Everyone told him 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you'. But his stubbornness got the better of him.
"The judges and show bosses had to put up with a lot over the years, but doing it to Shirley was a step too far.
"It was after that moment that the judges said: 'Off with his head' They told bosses - it's him or the show. They had simply had enough.
"And Brendan was the last to know."
The spat came after Shirley and Brendan disagreed over Charlotte Hawkins' Tango.
The dance veteran told the Good Morning Britain star and her partner that there was not enough "rise and fall" for the performance to be classed as a Tango.
Brendan snapped back at Shirley and disagreed with her opinion, even calling her "dear" in an awkward moment that prompted the other judges to warn Brendan over his "tone".
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Brendan opened up about his exit this week in an emotional TV interview with Lorraine Kelly.
He was visibly upset as he talked about leaving Strictly, and fans speculated his bust-up with Shirley might be behind his departure.
Since then, fellow professional dancer Oti Mabuse's husband Marius Iepure has been tipped to take Brendan's place on Strictly.
The Sun Online also revealed that Brendan is being considered as a possible new judge on Dancing On Ice.
The Sun Online has contacted a representative for Strictly for comment.
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