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

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.

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“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.”

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.

“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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