Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has disappointed fans of Brendan Cole by saying there’s no way the BBC will change its mind over his departure.
The ex-panellist told The Mirror she understands what Brendan is going through, after she was also dropped from the hit show back in 2009.
Just like what’s happening with Brendan now, many viewers had called for the BBC to reinstate her, even going so far as to launch petitions.
But it had zero impact.
Arlene, 74, said: “The BBC won’t change their mind. There was a big campaign to get me back but they have made their decision. The BBC will do what the BBC do.”
That will surely come as a blow to Brendan’s fans, many of whom have been hoping the BBC will indeed change its mind and reinstate Brendan, after seeing the reaction to his exit.
A seven-year-old schoolgirl has even started a petition begging BBC bosses to get Brendan’s job back.
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Arlene however, went on to say that she has no doubt Brendan, 41, will triumph in whatever he puts his mind to next.
“He has the world at his feet. You pull yourself together and move on,” she said.
Brendan has been linked to a slew of new jobs including a judging role on the next series of Dancing On Ice and even a stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
But so far, there’s no word on whether any of that will actually happen.
In a recent interview with Yours magazine, he had hinted at an entirely different career path one day: property developing.
He said: “I’d like to develop property. I used to build houses right from when I left school. I really enjoyed doing it; I like the hard work and the hard labour of doing it. I get stuck in.
“When my dancing career ends I will start up property developing.”
Brendan used an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine last week to announce he’d been dropped from Strictly after 15 years on air.
He was visibly emotional as 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.”
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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.
Good luck, Brendan!
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