Brendan Cole is assuring Digital Spy in a world exclusive chat that he's not campaigning for Len Goodman's Strictly Come Dancing judging job.
With the news that head judge Goodman is retiring from Strictly at the end of the current series, speculation has centered on Brendan and fellow pro Anton du Beke as his most likely successors.
Speaking with Digital Spy, Brendan said he expects a "a very long process" before the BBC finally decides who lands the coveted judging slot alongside Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell next year.
Related: Brendan Cole is giving "the boys" the edge on winning Strictly Come Dancing this year
"The BBC will make whatever decision is best for the show. We on the show will go, 'Okay, that's great'," he told us. "I have not put myself forward for the job. If I will, I will do so at the right time.
"Len is still on the show. He is irreplaceable in terms of what he does on the show. Whoever does come into the role of that seat, they can't go in there trying to replace Len.
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"They have to go in there with their own thing on it. Whoever it will be will have to decide what is it for themselves."
Not that Brendan would turn down the job: "Make no mistake, the role of a judge on Strictly is a great role to have. I have been a judge on Strictly in New Zealand. It's a great role to have. No doubt about it.
"You never get voted off, fantastic thank you very much. The workload as a dancer, you work day and night and it's gruelling.
"Obviously, the workload is a much easier role and you have an authority on the show which is a lovely thing. If I was to be considered within that role, that would be a huge honour.
"The thing is with the role, there are many people who can do it. Whether it be someone internally on Strictly or someone externally, the BBC will make the decisions and it will be right for the show."
Brendan also strongly played down rumours of a rivalry with fellow contender Anton du Beke, despite near-constant tabloid buzz about competition between the two.
"I don't want to break his leg," he teased. "That will give him a shoe-in! Anton is one of my very good friends.
"I certainly wouldn't want to wish ill against him. If the BBC make a decision, that will be the right thing for the show and I will be okay with it. We speak a lot and we are thick together because we started together. And we have got a bond that nobody else has got."
Earlier this week, Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood panned the idea of either Brendan or Anton landing Len's coveted job next year.
"I would go for someone from the Latin or ballroom world that the public don't know," Craig suggested. "You have to remember that we were all unknown when we came on to the show and created our characters.
"With someone brand new you would get a whole new opinion and a whole new person to either love or hate. You sort of know what you're going to get with Anton and Brendan."
For now, Brendan is focused on bringing home the mirrorball with his current Strictly Come Dancing partner Anastacia.
The duo and every other pair will strut their stuff for the first time this series during Strictly Come Dancing's two-night premiere on Friday (September 23) and Saturday (September 24) on BBC One.
Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
