Strictly star in tears after shock attack where pro partner used a ‘sexist slur’ and ‘slagged her off’ live on TV
ONE Strictly Come Dancing star was left in tears after her pro partner referred to her using a sexist slur, before slagging her off on live TV.
Doctors actress Sarah Manners was partnered with Brendan Cole back in the 2004 series of the BBC show, which is currently mired in scandal following Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima’s exits.
And in an unearthed interview with The Sun at the time, Brendan insulted his partner by branding her a “b****”.
Speaking to us back in November 2024, Brendan made no bones about the fact that he and Sarah didn’t see eye to eye.
‘We were two strong personalities’
He also unfavourably compared her to former BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, who he won the show with the year before and was romantically linked to – claims both he and Natasha denied.
In the chat with The Sun, Brendan said: “Sarah was a b***h, but I was also a b*****d.
“Natasha let me lead on the dance floor, choose her dress, decide on her hair. That certainly didn’t happen with Sarah. I was used to working with graceful women – Sarah was a ladette.
“To me on the dancefloor — the man is in charge. We were both two strong personalities, and the problem was we were both trying to drive the same car.”
His comments followed a poor performance in the rumba in week two of the competition, where Brendan reportedly stormed off set, refusing to talk to Sarah.
Sarah’s tears
Brendan also went on to appear on spin-off show, It Takes Two, where he compared Sarah’s moves to a “brick wall”.
She was shown in her Strictly VT the following week crying over his remarks.
Sarah then addressed the upsetting remarks in an interview with The Mirror.
“I called him and told him I’d seen him slagging me off – and burst into tears again. I felt I’d let him down but I’m doing more than my best,” she said.
“Afterwards he felt terrible and was very, very apologetic. He really wishes he hadn’t said it. Actually that is quite sad because he is fantastic. We have the best laugh.
“Dancers are very, very passionate and love what they do – and emotions are very high. When things are good they are very good and when they are not, that’s heightened as well.”
Unfortunately for Sarah, she was given the chop three weeks before the final, finishing in sixth place.
The eventual winner was EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny.
‘Not a particularly nice person’
Brendan left the show in 2018 and had several clashes with his celebrity partners over the years.
He openly admitted singer Lulu was his “worst” partner, saying on Loose Women that the Scot was “not a particularly nice person”.
He also left GMTV host Fiona Phillips in tears, as well as slapping her bum three times.
Unearthed footage of him in training with the broadcaster shows him slapping her on the bottom three times in scenes that were broadcast in 2005.
He was also shown appearing to act aggressively towards her and branded her “pathetic” before attempting laughing off his attitude.
This led to Fiona saying: “Stop shouting at me.”
Foul mouthed rant
She then said she didn’t want to continue with the training , adding: “I don’t feel like doing it now you’ve said that.”
Previous behind the scenes footage of the pair also saw Fiona burst into tears as Brendan had a tantrum.
Clearly irritated at their continual low scores, the clip captured Brendan fuming behind the scenes at dress rehearsals as he swears and launches into a foul mouthed rant.
He then orders cameras to “stop f*****g filming me.”
Later on, Fiona was seen breaking down into tears as she rehearsed with Brendan.
She told the camera in a solo confessional that the professional was “looking at me like something he had stepped in.”
Claire’s agony
Earlier today, The Sun also looked back at Emmerdale legend Claire King’s experience with the Kiwi dancer.
In an interview with The People, the actress described Brendan as “intolerant” and “impatient”, accusing him of frequently making her feel worthless and destroying her confidence.
She alleged he was dismissive of her arthritis too, despite doctors advising her to quit the show due to the condition.
How might Strictly's scandal affect the show's future?
By PR expert, Nick Ede
THE Strictly Glitterball has been tarnished by the revelations about Graziano and Gio and there is no going back for the show.
With other celebrities making their feelings known daily, this is not how the BBC saw their flagship show going into its next season, celebrating its 20th anniversary.
This dark cloud will forever change the show and all eyes will be on the dancers, the celebrities, their relationships and dynamics.
I am sure, with precautions being made, there will be less spark with the stars and this will, too, be a shame as the chemistry is something the audiences love and talk about.
Strictly is a bright star and one of the biggest shows on the planet. Not only does it bring families together, it has an effect that can be felt UK-wide with people up and down the country tuning in to enjoy it.
Also, it’s important not to tarsnish everyone on the show with the same brush.
Most of the professional dancers have had an impeccable record and it’s a shame to bring up past stars, who are no longer on the show, as well as the current stars who put their life and soul into performing each week.
The BBC has a responsibility and duty of care and, with new infrastructures in place, hopefully the brand will get beyond this and continue giving joy to so many millions of people who view it religiously.
The soap legend said: “We’d been dancing together for weeks and he never even realised I was in agony every day of training because of my arthritis.
“It was only when someone else pointed it out to him that he found out. He just isn’t interested in me at all. He’s very distant.
“He’s stunned we’ve even made it this far. He had no faith in me and certainly never did anything to boost my confidence. He’s had a very negative attitude.
She also told the publication he’d said some “really nasty things” about her in the media – including that she “stank of smoke”.