'My heart broke reading it': Brendan Cole reveals he had 'no idea' Strictly was taking a toll on former dance partner Sophie Ellis Bextor's marriage
Brendan Cole has admitted he had 'no idea' the strain Strictly was causing on Sophie Ellis Bextor's marriage.
The professional dancer, 45, who has just signed up for the new series of Dancing On Ice, was partnered with the singer, 42, in 2013.
Brendan spoke about Sophie's shocking revelations during his appearance on Loose Women on Wednesday.
What goes on behind closed doors: Brendan Cole has admitted he had 'no idea' the strain Strictly was causing on Sophie Ellis Bextor's marriage
Over the weekend, the songstress wrote for The Mail On Sunday about how her husband Richard Jones, 42, 'struggled' with her involvement on the show that he ended up in counselling.
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Brendan told the panel: 'It was an interesting read. My heart broke actually reading it. She didn't really let on what was going on behind closed doors, even though I had a very close relationship with her and Richard.
'As she said in the article the first day on Strictly I went over to Richard and shook his hand and I told her that she's got to involve her family.
Finalists: The professional dancer, 45, who has just signed up for the new series of Dancing On Ice, was partnered with the singer, 42, in 2013
'It's the most important thing when you do a show like this, you have to involve the family so that they can go on the journey, if you like, with you. If you don't they begin to feel isolated and that they're not part of something really special that you're going through.'
Brendan added: 'It was heartbreaking but I thought she was very brave to do it and that Richie was very brave too, and to highlight what goes on behind the scenes on these shows.'
In the extract from her book Spinning Plates, Sophie said Richard would keep checking up on her all the time and explained how he felt she might 'leave their family behind'.
Brendan spoke about Sophie's shocking revelations during his appearance on Loose Women on Wednesday
She wrote: 'Richard started to struggle with my involvement from the launch show onwards. It was so hard for him that I can remember wondering if they'd ever had a contestant walk away from the show before they'd even danced their first dance.
'The physical closeness was something I struggled with throughout, but, by the end, a lot of things I had thought were odd – like the 'couples' holding hands or gripping on to each other for the results show – I was used to and it seemed as if, by doing those things, I had crossed another Strictly hurdle.'
'After the show finished, I felt done in. Rinsed.
That Christmas I felt removed from everything. Part of me was terrified – what if my feelings didn’t return? – but more of me felt calm. I told myself to just go with the flow.
Marriage woes: Brendan told the panel: 'It was an interesting read. My heart broke actually reading it. She didn't really let on what was going on behind closed doors'
'And slowly, I did return to myself. Richard and I took care of each other. We went away, just the two of us. A lot of it wasn’t spoken about. We didn’t really talk about how hard it had been for a long time – not properly. It was too tender. We never doubted our love for each other but I think Richard worried that I just wouldn’t want our life again.
'But of course I did. To me, my family is everything.'
Tested: Over the weekend, the songstress wrote for The Mail On Sunday about how her husband Richard Jones, 42, 'struggled' with her involvement on the show (pictured in 2017)
Skates on: Brendan will join fellow Dancing on Ice contestants, singer Rachel Stevens, Coronation Street legend Sally Dynevor and Happy Mondays dancer Bez
Brendan will join fellow Dancing on Ice contestants, singer Rachel Stevens, Coronation Street legend Sally Dynevor, Happy Mondays dancer Bez, Paralympian Stef Reid, Love Island’s Liberty Poole, rugby star Ben Foden, and Paul Gascoigne son, Regan, on the show next year.
'I'm so excited to get started. I've wanted to do it for a long time. I can dance and it is a massive advantage. I will hopefully pick up choreography quite easily.
'There will be certain things I don't have to think about working on during the week, because hopefully they are naturally there.
I'm so excited that my children are going to see me do this. But when asked if he can ice skate, he said: "I've had one go. I'm a fairly confident person and I was thinking I would be fine.
'I was terrible. I was a bit wobbly. I was hoping I was going to be better than I was, but I've got time to learn.'
Couple: Brendan is happily married to wife Zoe Hobbs (pictured in July)
Dancing On Ice 2022: Who are the celebrities?
RACHEL STEVENS
Age: 43
Profession: Singer
Rachel says: 'It now feels really real, this is really happening. I'm so excited, obviously really nervous.'
LIBERTY POOLE
Age: 22
Profession: Love Island star
Liberty says: 'I ice skate as a hobby sometimes so I can get around the rink but I can't do any tricks'
STEF REID
Age: 36
Profession: Paralympian
Stef says: 'I'm going to be a contestant on Dancing on Ice and it's a little bit scary but I cannot wait!'
REGAN GASCOIGNE
Age: 26
Profession: Singer
Regan says: 'I love dancing but it's the skill of this. I've always wanted to do it. Always! Ever since I was a kid!'
BEN FODEN
Age: 36
Profession: Rugby player
Ben says: 'I like the idea of learning a new sport and a new skill. I'm quite competitive as well.'
SALLY DYNEVOR
Age: 58
Profession: Coronation Street actress
Sally says: 'This is a massive challenge. I'm so scared! I've just got to take every opportunity I get.'
BEZ
Age: 57
Profession: Happy Mondays
Bez says: 'I'm always up for a challenge and am already in training on the ice.'
