Brendan Cole has come a long way from his days as a builder but he’s hoping to raise the roof when he returns to the spiritual home of dancing next month.
The star of Strictly Come Dancing heads out on tour this month and is particularly looking forward to his date in Blackpool.
The resort regularly hosts the Strictly stars and Brendan is well aware of Blackpool’s credentials. ‘I remember being there five or six years ago and going on stage at the Opera House when no-one else was there and just thinking “oh wow”,’ he said. ‘It’s a big venue and knowing who has performed there in the past is very exciting. Seeing the posters on the walls of the massive acts who have been there over the years, there is a very special feeling about performing in Blackpool.
‘It has been really good that strictly has been able to bring the show to Blackpool. When it comes to it you do think “crikey, we’ve got to lift the whole show to Blackpool” but it’s always a really big week and we have a great time.’
Brendan was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and began dancing as a six-year-old. He moved to England when he was 18 but spent time working as a builder and roofer before he became a professional dancer.
He won the first series of Strictly Come Dancing, with newsreader partner Natasha Kaplinsky but his victory led to fiancée Camilla Dallerup calling off their engagement, accusing the couple of having had an affair.
Now 38, Brendan has been an ever-present in the Strictly line-up, most recently partnering Casualty actress Suntetra Sarker. He is married to model Zoe Hobbs and their daughter Aurelia celebrated her second birthday on Christmas Day.
His A Night to Remember tour kicked off at the end of January and includes 48 dates the length and breadth of the UK, reaching Blackpool on March 6 and Manchester two days later. ‘It’s hard to be away from the family for such a long time but we have our time together from April to July, so it’s not all bad,’ he said.
‘When I put on my first show, Live and Unjudged, there was immense pressure to do it right. I remember walking off on the first night to a standing ovation and having that energy coming back at you is the best feeling in the world. I get a feeling of pure joy from doing what I do and when people respond it is truly amazing.
‘The show we’re touring with now is a proper variety show. There’s a wide range of people who watch strictly, from children to grannies and granddads and it’s important we have something for everybody in the show.
‘We have phenomenal musicians, dancers who have really exciting talent, including some faces people will recognise from Britain’s Got Talent and some people you might know from Strictly. We’ve got a great group who all work well together and there’s a real energy on the stage.
‘I like to get involved with the audience too, with a question and answer session in the middle of the show where you might hear some back stage gossip from Strictly, so it’ll be very intimate and warm feeling.’
* A Night To Remember is at Blackpool Opera House on March 6. Tickets, costing £22-£38.50, from the box office on 0844 856 1111. The show is at Manchester Opera House on March 8. tickets there cost £28.90-£40.90. Call the box office on 0161 828 1700.
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