Brendan Cole, born and raised in Christchuch, New Zealand, started dancing at the age of 6. He says of his early experience, My mum dragged me along to classes with my brother and we hated it. My brother even escaped once. But when it started to get competitive then I changed my mind.
Aged 18, Brendan moved to London, to further his studies and to make a career out of dancing. To support himself and his burgeoning dance ambitions, Brendan worked as a warehouseman, in insurance, and also as a builder but became a professional dancer in 1999.
Since then Brendan has won the Asian Pacific Latin American Champion title and also New Zealand Latin American Champion. With his dance partner Camilla, Brendan also reached the final stages of what are considered to be the world's top four dance competitions.
Brendan has appeared in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, winning the first series in the spring of 2004. Brendan has also appeared as a judge in the New Zealand version of the show, Dancing With The Stars.
Brendan is now based in London, and continues to teach his speciality, Latin American dance.
"He was charming and made the overall winners feel very special...he even stayed for the disco which followed the awards ceremony and danced with several of my guests which obviously made their night!!" Brendan Cole hosted Nationwide's Community Awards