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Brendan Cole says 'young upstart' days are over as he gears up for 'Dancing On Ice'

Julia Hunt
·Contributor
·2-min read
This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 11th January 2022 From Lifted Entertainment Dancing on Ice: SR14 on ITV and ITV Hub Pictured: Brendan Cole. This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052
Brendan Cole is getting ready for 'Dancing On Ice'. (ITV)

Brendan Cole has insisted his “answering back” days are behind him as he gears up for Dancing On Ice.

The 45-year-old was one of the pros on Strictly for 15 years and is now strapping on his skates to show what he can do on the ice.

He said he is ready to “take on” what Torvill and Dean and co have to say and that viewers won't see the “young upstart” from the BBC ballroom show.

Read more: Brendan Cole ended up in A&E with concussion after Dancing On Ice fall

“I have no interest in answering back any of the judges on this particular show, I am coming in as a novice,” said the star, who exited Strictly in 2018.

“I am going to be listening, I will be taking on their critiques and trying to improve for the next week. You won’t see the young upstart that you saw on Strictly, you will see the respectful old senile.”

This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 11th January 2022 From Lifted Entertainment Dancing on Ice: SR14 on ITV and ITV Hub Pictured: Vanessa Bauer and Brendan Cole. This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052
The star is skating with Vanessa Bauer. (ITV)

Cole, who will be paired with Vanessa Bauer, agreed that his dance background might be a bit of an advantage in some ways, but said that ice-skating was still very different to ballroom.

“I am used to performing on a live Saturday and Sunday night television show,” said the star.

“Being a dancer I pick up choreography without thinking about it too much, whereas I am sure if you’re new to learning choreography it might take a bit longer.

“It is still a very, very different discipline and I think that is the beauty of the show."

The TV star went on: "You’re going to see people at different stages and, like on Strictly, you get some fantastic dancers on there – where they start to where they finish is what’s important.

Sophie Ellis Bextor and Brendan Cole rehearse for the Strictly Come Dancing semi-finals at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.
Brendan Cole was on 'Strictly' for many years. (PA)

“There are three or four of us who have danced in the past. Yes, it might give a small advantage in some areas, but in some areas I am having to unlearn a lot of things and I am getting told off quite a lot for doing things that I shouldn’t be doing.”

Read more: Brendan Cole worried he won't be as good as people think on Dancing On Ice

The ITV show returns this weekend, with judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean and Ashley Banjo returning and Strictly’s Oti Mabuse joining the line-up.

Dancing On Ice launches on ITV on Sunday January 16 at 6.30pm.

Additional reporting by PA.

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