Brendan Cole has shared his heartache after discovering that his time on Strictly Come Dancing with Sophie Ellis-Bextor wreaked havoc on her marriage.
Sophie, 42, and Brendan, 45, were partnered together back in 2013 and found themselves dancing all the way through to fourth place but despite being happy about competing on the show, it took a toll on Sophie’s marriage.
Her husband, Richard Jones is said to have sought counselling while Sophie showcased her best dancing skills in front of the nation.
Now, Brendan has revealed he had “no idea” what was going through Sophie’s mind at the time.
(Image: PA)
Speaking on Loose Women, the professional dancer said: “It was an interesting read, y 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.”
(Image: ITV)
He continued: “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 went on to say: “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 an excerpt of her memoir published by the Mail on Sunday, Sophie revealed that Richard became “unusually insistent on knowing where I was all the time,” before adding: “If I didn’t reply to a text, he’d spiral.”
(Image: Getty Images)
She explained that while Richard is her biggest fan and supports her career, he was “just waiting for it to end” when she was on Strictly.
The Murder on The Dancefloor singer penned: “He’d message me all day when I was rehearsing, extra keen to know my schedule.
“We would argue when I was home about how distracted I was and about whether I’d get through to the next week, he just felt as if I might slip into a new life that left our family behind.
“I had no such desire but was too spent at the end of the day to give the reassurance he needed, I think the only real reassurance could come with the show finishing.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
