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Brendan Cole: 'Strictly' curse gossip can ruin lives

Brendan Cole warned that all the rumours around the so-called “Strictly curse” can “ruin lives”, as he discussed last season’s winners Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse being photographed together.

The phrase “Strictly curse” was coined after several of the contestants’ romances suffered and broke down when they appeared on the BBC show over the years, with some ending up falling for the people they were paired with.

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Cole is no stranger to the gossip, as although he has insisted he “didn’t cross any lines”, back in 2004 he split from fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup when he was paired with Natasha Kaplinsky on the programme.

Read more: Kelvin Fletcher insists his marriage is ‘amazing’

Speaking on Lorraine, he addressed recent rumours about Fletcher, who was in the headlines after he was pictured out with his dance partner Mabuse.

Oti Mabuse and Kelvin Fletcher attending the the 2019 Pride of Britain Awards, held at Grosvenor House in London. The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB, will broadcast on ITV on 5th November at 8pm. Picture credit should read: Doug Peters/EMPICS
Oti Mabuse and Kelvin Fletcher attending the the 2019 Pride of Britain Awards (Doug Peters/EMPICS)

“You have to be careful,” said Cole.

“The thing about Strictly is, you are in a relationship with your dance partner, of sorts. Whatever kind of relationship that is, we don’t necessarily know.

“Take lovely Oti and Kelvin this week, they’ve been pictured going to the hotel for the big party with all the other guys.

“This sort of thing ruins lives.

“His wife Liz, Oti’s husband Marius, they’ve got two children Liz and Kelvin, the rumours that fly around, it’s hopefully not true, there’s nothing going on.”

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 08: Professional dancer Brendan Cole attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing' Season 8 Launch Show at BBC Television Centre on September 8, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)
Brendan Cole attends the 'Strictly Come Dancing' Season 8 Launch Show (Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

Host Lorraine Kelly interrupted to say that Fletcher had made it clear there was anything going on between him and Mabuse, and Cole responded: “There you go.”

He went on: “You do have to be careful but you create chemistry together, and Kelvin and Oti will probably be lifelong friends because they have been through something so… they won it.”

Read more: Kelvin Fletcher in ‘complete disbelief’ over win

Cole was one of the original stars of Strictly Come Dancing, joining the show in 2004.

In 2018 he announced that he was leaving, saying that the BBC had not renewed his contract.