Strictly Come Dancing reps have denied reports that Brendan Cole has been banned from the set.
The Sun has claimed that show bosses have stepped in to prevent him turning up on the set and distracting the dancers.
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Brendan was a stalwart of the hit dance show, having been one of the pro dancers from back in series one.
But after the end of the last series show bosses made the surprise decision to cut him from the line up, after 14 years.
And according to The Sun’s TV insider, they decided to go one step further – asking the current line up of dancers not to invite him onto the set.
“Execs know a number of the dancers are still friendly with Brendan so have issued a firm ‘no’ on anyone having ideas that he will come down to the studios on their friends and family lists,” the source said.
“They don’t want any awkward moments and want the professionals to focus on giving the best they can to the show rather than being distracted by people from the past.”
The source also claimed that bosses were worried that reports of Brendan being on the set might cause rumours that he’d be coming back to the show.
“They don’t want to fuel talk he’ll come back as that’s definitely not going to happen.”
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But show reps have dismissed reports and insisted that the dancer will always be considered part of the Strictly team.
“Brendan is part of the Strictly family, and no one has ever said he can’t be at rehearsals,” they said.
The new series of Strictly is set to kick off next month, with three new pro dancers – Johannes Radebe, Luba Mushtuk and Graziano Di Prima – included in the line up.
Entertainment Daily has contacted reps for Brendan for comment on this story.
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