Craig Revel Horwood thinks it was a "good time" for Brendan Cole to leave 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Craig Revel Horwood
Angry viewers set up a petition last year after it was announced that the 42-year-old professional dancer - who has been on the show since its launch in 2004 - would not be returning for the forthcoming series, but the acid-tongue judge, who has known Brendan for years, thinks his departure couldn't have come at a better time because he can now "build" his career.
Speaking to OK! magazine, Craig - who has been a judge on the programme since 2004 - said: "I think it was a good time for Brendan to go. He's got a fantastic platform and can now build his career. You can't dance forever. I left dancing when I was 30 and pursued another career."
It was previously claimed that Brendan's axe had something to do with his feud with head judge Shirley Ballas - who joined the programme last year in place of Len Goodman - after the pair locked horns live on national television when she criticised some of the footwork he had choreographed.
Craig snapped: "I don't think it was anything to do with Shirley - that's a load of rubbish."
Brendan certainly isn't short of work now that he's no longer tied to the ballroom and latin show as he's reportedly been offered £150,000 to play Prince Charming in the upcoming production of 'Snow White' in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and is wanted for various reality TV shows.
However, the same can't be said for the BBC as they are reportedly finding it "trickier than expected" to track down someone to take the place of the 6ft 1inch pro.
A source said recently: "Bosses need a tall dancer to pair up with taller females like Charlotte Hawkins on the show but have been really struggling to find one. Many of the show's professionals may look tall and hunky on screen, but in reality they're often a lot shorter. Most ballroom dancers are naturally shorter than most average men so it's proving trickier than expected."
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