Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas and Brendan Cole have cleared the air after a ‘feud’ on this year’s series.
Brendan, who was partnered with celeb dancer Charlotte Hawkins, had rowed with Shirley over her comments and marks during the 2017 live shows.
It seemingly resulted in a tense atmosphere between the pair backstage.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper earlier this month, Shirley spoke out about the supposed feud.
She said of Brendan: “He’s confrontational. Every other professional was extremely respectful, very well-mannered, ‘How are you Mrs Ballas? You’re doing a good job’.
“I was quite surprised. I got my feelings hurt because when he was with Camilla (Dallerup) all those years ago they came to our home, had dinner. But again, in my industry I’m used to that. He’s going on chat shows saying I’m her equal and this, that and the other. I don’t need to put somebody else down to build myself up.”
However it seems relations improved for the Christmas special, which was won by Brendan and his celebrity partner Katie Derham.
She told The Sun: “Emotions run high on that show and everyone has their moments, but Shirley was very friendly to us backstage, so obviously whatever tiff they had has ended.
“It was amazing when Shirley gave us a ten — I love her. I looked like a grinning lunatic
Brendan previously played down the claims of a feud in an interview on ITV’s Lorraine.
However he admitted: “I tend to be more argumentative than the rest of the pros. The rest will be [in the change rooms yelling] left, right and centre, but I don’t control myself for the change room I have to do it live on air.
“I’m a nice person – my wife will tell you. I don’t hold back and morally I’m big on doing the right thing at the right time and I had to stick up for Charlotte from Shirley.”
The latest series of Strictly Come Dancing was won by Joe McFadden.
The show will return next autumn for what will be its sixteenth series.
