Brendan Cole has announced his next venture will be on ITV after he was booted off Strictly Come Dancing by the BBC.
The 41-year-old New Zealander will take part in ITV’s Soccer Aid for Unicef at Old Trafford in June as he joins Usain Bolt’s World XI.
The professional dancer featured in every series of Strictly since it began in 2004 but the BBC made the “editorial decision” not to renew his contract in January.
He joins the likes of Sir Mo Farah, Robbie Williams and Gordon Ramsay in signing up for the match alongside former professionals Clarence Seedorf and Robert Pires.
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Brendan said: “As soon as the curtain fell on my Strictly career, I knew my next move had to be Soccer Aid for Unicef.
“For years, I have been a massive fan of the match and have always watched the game in between performances.
“To be able to finally announce that I will be swapping my dancing shoes for football boots this summer feels incredible.
“What’s bigger than the nation’s love of dancing? The nation’s love of the beautiful game, of course – and I’m aiming for 10s across the board.”
Out of the ballroom and on to the pitch! @BrendanCole joins the Soccer Aid World XI! Buy your tickets now: https://t.co/j9zr6lPTJP or call: 0161 444 2018 #TeamUsain #SoccerAid #ITV #STV pic.twitter.com/iJySDeSq5d
— Soccer Aid ⚽️ (@socceraid) March 27, 2018
Bolt’s World XI will take on Robbie’s England XI in the international friendly, which takes place on June 10.
Launched in 2006 by Unicef UK ambassador Robbie, it has previously featured stars including Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Maradona and Ronaldinho.
Fans have been telling Brendan how excited they are to see him on screen again – even in a very different capacity!
One tweeted: “Good for you! I don’t watch football but I’ll support this!!”
Others said they’d watch even if they don’t normally turn on the beautiful game!
“Hate footy, but will be supporting Brendan’s moves!” wrote one, while another added: “This is going to be brilliant I can’t wait to go now.”
Brendan announced in January that he’d been let go from Strictly, despite featuring from the very first series.
In an emotional interview with ITV’s Lorraine, he said: “This is quite hard to talk about. The BBC haven’t renewed my contract – we get renewed year on year – and they made an editorial decision not to have me back on the show.
“I’m a little bit in shock. I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it.”
“It’s done via a process of a phone call and stuff. I have had 15 incredible series on the show. I’m very proud of the whole show. It’s a great team.”
In a statement, the BBC said: “We’d like to thank Brendan Cole for being part of the show since the beginning – winner of the first series – and for the contribution he has made to its success.
“We wish him all the very best for the future.
Meanwhile, there has been happier news in Brendan’s life lately, as he and wife Zoe welcomed their second child this month.
The couple announced the arrival of Danté via Instagram, alongside a photo of the little lad’s chubby legs.
Zoe said: “Two little sets of ducky feet. Bandy legs just like his daddy! Thanks for all your kind comments on the arrival of our baby boy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgTyD_yhMK_/?taken-by=thezoec
“We’re all super in love with him especially big sister Aurélia who can’t bear to let him out of her sight. He came right when I asked him to on daddy’s day off. The power of the mind and the universe is good like that.”
Brendan and Zoe’s eldest child, Aurélia, is five.
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