On Air Now
Smooth Breakfast with Jenni Falconer 6am - 10am
6 September 2018, 17:29 | Updated: 1 October 2018, 17:13
Brendan Cole was one of the original stars of Strictly Come Dancing since its launch back in 2004.
However, for the first time he will not be appearing in 2018. So why is he not there?
Here are all the important facts about the famous dancer you need to know...
During an interview with Lorraine Kelly on her daytime ITV show in January 2018, Brendan revealed that he had been axed from the show after 15 series.
Brendan has often clashed with judges over the years, and described GMTV host Fiona Phillips as "the worst partner he had ever had".
In February 2018, The Sun claimed that Brendan had been axed for dancing with Camilla Parker Bowles at Buckingham Palace.
Brendan Cole is a New Zealand ballroom dancer, specialising in Latin American dancing.
He is best known for appearing as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing from its first series in 2004 to 2017. From 2005 to 2009, he was also a judge on the New Zealand version of the show, Dancing with the Stars.
In 2010, Brendan Cole married British model Zoe Hobbs.
Zoe gave birth to their first child, daughter Aurelia, on Christmas Day 2012.
In March 2018, Zoe gave birth to their second child, a son named Danté. The family now live in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Brendan was born on April 23, 1976. He celebrated his 42nd birthday in 2018.
He moved to the UK when he was 18, where he studied the pasodoble, ballroom and ballet at Donaheys, Clayton, Manchester. Before becoming a professional dancer, he was a builder and roof layer.