Strictly Come Dancing's Brendan Cole talks ahead of Birmingham dance show

Brendan is bringing his latest spectacular production, All Night Long, back to Symphony Hall tonight.

He will be joined by his sensational cast of guest dancers, his captivating leading lady and superbly talented 14-piece band and singers, to whip up an extravagant mix of Latin fever and ballroom magic. From tantalising Tango to fiery Paso Doble, elegant Foxtrot to breath-taking Waltz – and with a few surprises in store – fans can expect an extraordinary dance show.

Live music, stunning special effects and Brendan’s own dazzling choreography and charm make it an unforgettable night.

Brendan has had to adapt after unexpectedly being told his contract would not be renewed – even though he was one of the remaining original dancers and had enjoyed 15 years on the show.

He announced the news he was leaving in an emotional interview on ITV’s Lorraine and has since spoken out and said he can’t swell on it and needs to remain positive.

“I’ve got to be otherwise I’d beat myself up wondering why.

“I’ve had pretty much every range of emotions from sadness to excitement. I love . . . I loved being a pro on Strictly. I loved the fact I was there from the beginning. One of the saddest bits is that it will go on and I won’t be a part of it. It’s like not being invited to the party. You know they’re having a good time and you want to be a part of it.

“The interview I did on Lorraine was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

“Bear in mind, I hadn’t told anybody except my wife. But I wanted to have control of the situation because I am a control freak. I wanted to be the one to tell the people who like watching me dance. I didn’t want them to hear it through a tweet.

“The BBC would have been happy if I’d said I’d wanted to leave the show and have my pride intact. But that’s not me. I don’t lie. I’m definitely upset. This is not something I wanted. I thought I had a few more years in me. I wasn’t ready to hang up the old dancing shoes.”

His former Strictly colleagues have sent him messages saying they’ll miss him and hope he is in good shape.

Anton Du Beke said the show would be less without him while presenter Tess Daly said she couldn’t believe it. Former judges Arlene and Len have also been in touch, with Len telling him bigger things will come his way.

“There’s always that little bit of you that thinks, I wonder if they’ll want me back. You just don’t know. So it was 15 series of waiting for this day to come. Every year, particularly as the show has got bigger and bigger, you think: I really want to be there. I hope I haven’t blown it. I hope I’m still exciting people. I was in a hotel room when my agent called me first. There was a massive feeling of: “The day I’ve dreaded has come.”

All Night Long is a show that Brendan has worked hard to perfect and he’s looking forward to bringing it to Birmingham.

“I love what I do, and in work terms, I’m a bit of a lunatic. I don’t like sitting still for a second. I love being busy, I love pressure, and I have a very strong desire to succeed in everything I do. Having said that, although I don’t need that much time off for myself, family is my main priority; my daughter turned five on Christmas Day, and every moment I spend with her and my wife Zoe is very special to me, so I work very hard to make that time happen too.

“You can expect a full-on night of entertainment from All Night Long. There will, of course, be everything people know and love from Strictly in the mix, because Strictly has a unique magic about it, and I’ve aimed to recreate that magic on stage. But there’s a little bit more of something for everybody in it, and there’s an emotional side to it, too.

“For me, dancing is very emotional. While I’ve put together a big show that goes at 100 miles an hour for two hours, I like to take people’s feelings on a rollercoaster as well: one minute you’ll be up partying and dancing in the aisles, the next you’ll be stunned by something really beautiful. You most definitely will not be seeing the same type of dances over and over again.

“If a young boy gets a bit of stick from his mates for wanting to dance, then take that stick and use it to drive yourself to be even better at what you’re doing – that’s exactly what I did. I can feel the audience coming on the journey of the story with me as I dance, and at the end, we’ve all been carried off somewhere else.”