EXCLUSIVE: The 2025 Strictly Come Dancing final is upon us and former show pro Brendan Cole has lifted the lid on what happens, including why it’s such a struggle
Brendan Cole has opened up about what happens in the Strictly final.
The former Strictly pro won the first ever series of the BBC show back in 2004, when he was partnered with newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky. He recently admitted the Strictly trophy he won that year met a rather tragic fate – and was broken in about 16 pieces.
He reached the final three times, so it’s safe to say he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to what the Strictly final is like. The final of this year’s Strictly series airs tonight (December 20) at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
It’s the biggest night in the ballroom. The couples competing for the Glitterball are Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.
Brendan has said that the pressure on the couples is “enormous”. The reason it’s so difficult, he explained, is that you have to produce your best work when you’re “completely exhausted” following the previous weeks of the show.
He told Sky Vegas and Daily Star: “The pressure is enormous in the Strictly final. You’ve got to produce a brand-new show dance, rehearse previous routines, fulfil filming commitments, and somehow deliver your absolute best work when you’re completely exhausted.
“By that point, you’ve been training for months. You’re fatigued beyond belief, and the pressure to get the show dance right is huge because if you get it wrong, it goes down in history. I know that from personal experience.”
He added: “The difference now is that the show is much bigger, with a massive team supporting it. But it’s still a huge ask, and it’s a very, very tough week.”
And former pro Vincent Simone believes making it to the final alone is a win. He told Sky Vegas and Daily Star: “I’ve been in the final twice. Up to that weekend, there’s pressure and competition, but once you’re in the final, it feels like a celebration. You’ve made it; there’s almost nothing to lose. Everyone dances well, and it’s all about enjoying the night. Making it to the final already feels like a win.”
Brendan previously told the amusing (and heartbreaking) tale of his doomed Strictly trophy. He told us: “My Glitterball trophy lived in a garage for many years. It was shipped from house to house and eventually it ended up in about 16 pieces.
“That sounds like I didn’t care about it, I did, it was quite plasticky and so sadly it’s sitting nicely in a waste site somewhere.”
Asked how the show has changed him, he said: “Being on Strictly Come Dancing changed me dramatically from year one to year 15. I started out hot-headed, wanting to prove myself, and I learned how to be on television on the job – mainly through mistakes. I look back at some of my behaviour, and I’m embarrassed by the ridiculousness of it.
“But I learned how to be an entertainer, how to be good on TV, and I learned from Sir Bruce Forsyth every single day. He was the master. I learned from my peers too. I could write chapters on it, but in short – Strictly shaped me.”
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