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Craig said that he and Brendan were enemies(Image: Getty)

Strictly Come Dancing’s judge, Craig Revel Horwood, has opened up about his long-standing feud with professional dancer Brendan Cole, describing them as “archenemies”. The pair, who were both part of the BBC show, had a history of clashing on numerous occasions.

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In an interview with Radio Times, Craig said: “In my screen test I had to judge footage of two contestants rehearsing. I said, ‘She can hardly walk down the stairs, and the professional has the bowest legs I’ve ever seen’.”

He continued: “That couple was Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole, and they went on to win it. By the end of that series, it was nail-bitingly exciting.”

Craig added: “It won the hearts and minds of a nation. As for Brendan, we really were archenemies. He was very mouthy and he’d say, ‘Oh, what would you know?’ So I secretly studied ballroom with Len’s wife Sue, because knowledge is power.”

Brendan was a regular feature on Strictly from its inception in 2004 until 2018 when he was informed by the bosses that his contract would not be renewed, according to the Express, reports Wales Online.

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Craig Revel Horwood is back to his best on Strictly(Image: BBC)

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Reflecting on Brendan’s departure, Craig said: “I think it was a good time for Brendan to go. He’s got a fantastic platform and can now build his career. You can’t dance forever.”

However, Brendan seemed hesitant to hang up his dancing shoes completely. During an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, he confessed: “It’s quite, actually, hard to talk about. The BBC haven’t renewed my contract. We get contracted year upon year.

“They’ve made an editorial decision to not have me back on the show. I’m a little bit in shock.

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“I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it. It’s done via a process of a phone call and stuff.

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Brendan Cole was a dancer on the show for several years(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

“I have had 15 incredible series on the show. I’m very proud of the whole show. It’s a great team.”

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Craig has since confessed that he reached out to Brendan following their spat, albeit for a rather specific reason.

He admits his motives behind the peace offering weren’t entirely altruistic.

While appearing on Kate Thornton’s podcast White Wine Question Time, Craig revealed: “I invited him around two years ago to my house. I hadn’t spoken to him for years. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to see Brendan,’ just to see if he’s working..”

Craig added: “Oh god this is going out to people, isn’t it? Anyway, he had an electric car. He was showing off. We hated each other.”