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Brendan Cole finally addresses rumours he’s quitting Strictly

GMB put him on the spot and asked him directly

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Speculation has been rife that Strictly’s Brendan Cole will quit the show after being voted off the latest series.

The professional dancer and his partner Charlotte Hawkins were the third couple to leave at the weekend.

Viewers were shocked when he said “I’m going to miss this” in his emotional farewell speech, believing he meant the appearance would be his last after 15 years on the Strictly dance floor.

Today, he appeared on Good Morning Britain to set the record straight.

Read more: Strictly viewers beg Brendan not to leave

When asked by Charlotte’s co-host Susanna Reid if he would return to Strictly next year, he said:  “Good question – every year I have the argument with myself – do I want to do another series?

“I love the show and taking part. When I said ‘I will miss this’ I meant going into the studio with Charlotte, I’ve had the best time I’ve had in years rehearsing with her.”

He added: “Next year it depends on the BBC if they want me and what I am doing at the time. If I am ready and available and inspired to do it, I will come back – if the BBC want me.”

However, he added that one thing that annoys him about being on the show is that the “professional dancers aren’t allowed to have an opinion”.

He’s got into hot water in the past for arguing with the judges and he said he was determined not to do that this year, biting his tongue as much as possible when his routines were criticised – even when Shirley Ballas got Charlotte’s name wrong.

Read more: Strictly judge hits out at Brendan Cole on This Morning

He said: “I find it quite frustrating. I am a colleague of Shirley. She is not my superior but I respect she is a judge on the show.”

Brendan, whose wife is currently expecting their second baby, said he was disappointed about being out of this year’s series so soon as he felt Charlotte had a lot of potential.

She was also gutted as her two-year-old daughter Ella Rose never got the chance to visit her in the rehearsal studio and have a dance with Brendan as she’d promised.

However, today she got her wish as Brendan danced with the adorable little girl on the breakfast show.