'Strictly Come Dancing': Brendan Cole Speaks Out About Len Goodman Replacement Rumours

Brendan Cole has spoken out on rumours he’s set to replace Len Goodman as a judge on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. 

The professional dancer’s name has been linked to the job ever since veteran judge Len announced he would be stepping down at the end of the current series.  

However, Brendan has insisted he isn’t going for the job, despite admitting he would like it. 

The star also made a dig at former pros Karen Hardy and Iain Whaite, who have also been linked to Len’s chair. 

“Why would he be, why would she be?” he said in an interview with The Sun. 

“Listen, that’s fine. I’m not going for the job. I would love the job.

“I’ve been a judge on the New Zealand version for five years. Len’s irreplaceable. Whoever does take the role has to make it their own.”

It was previously rumoured Brendan and fellow pro dancer Anton Du Beke were at odds over the position - something which Brendan played down in his Digital Spy column. 

“Anton is one of my very good friends. I certainly wouldn’t want to wish ill against him. If the BBC make a decision, that will be the right thing for the show and I will be okay with it,” he said.

“We speak a lot and we are thick together because we started together. And we have got a bond that nobody else has got.”

Anton himself admitted he isn’t hopeful of landing the Head Judge role, also telling The Sun: “What will happen is that I will get my hopes up and I will think to myself ‘Yeah, I would really like to do that’ and then they won’t ask me and then I will be disappointed.

“I love what I am doing already. I love being on the show and the thing for me is that I just want to be in the show.”

Len is set to make his last ‘Strictly’ appearance during the show’s pre-recorded Christmas special, which airs on Christmas Day.

Claudia Fragapane, Louise Redknapp, Danny Mac and Ore Oduba will be battling it out in this weekend’s semi-final, which airs on Saturday at 6.50pm on BBC One.