Shirley Ballas has praised Brendan Cole as an "amazing dancer", insisting she has had "no face-to-face confrontation" with him.
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ head judge clashed with the professional dancer – who has since been axed from the programme – during the latest series after he and his celebrity partner Charlotte Hawkins’ rendition of the Tango, but the 57-year-old star has dismissed talk of any issues between them and wished him well for the future.
She said: "I don’t have any recollection on a personal level of bridges ever being broken or rebuilt between me and Brendan.
"He is an amazing dancer, an amazing person, whose career I have followed for many, many years and I’m extremely proud of what he’s achieved both at work and at home.
"One of the things people learn with me is I don’t need to pull someone else down to build myself up and I will live and die by that rule.
"There has been no face-to-face confrontation and all I can say is I wish him, his wife and their two beautiful children well because, whatever he does next, I know he will bring 100 per cent to his role."
Shirley joined the ballroom and Latin show as head judge last year, replacing Len Goodman, and would love to reprise her role for the forthcoming series, but admitted nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
She added to HELLO! magazine: "I hope to be back, I’d like to, but as yet nothing’s official.
"My critiques will always remain firm. I will say it as I see it, though you can’t help but get emotionally attached to the couples."
Brendan caused tension during an October episode of the show when he disputed Shirley’s comments towards him and Charlotte.
Shirley told the pair: "She [Charlotte] needs to stand on her own feet and we’ve established that there’s no rise and fall in Tango. So we’ve got to make a concrete decision not to use rise and fall. So no rise and fall."
But Brendan argued: "There was no rise and fall in that whatsoever."
Shirley then said: "Well, there is, Brendan. You should play it back and see."
Brendan fired back: "I will my dear, I will. There was no rise and fall."
The pro dancer has since been axed following the end of the series, and has admitted that while he isn’t a fan of the show’s bosses’ decision to relieve him of his ‘Strictly’ services, he "respects" their choice.
He said: "It’s going to be hard for me to watch but I’m a fan of the show and the show comes first. They’ve made the decision and I respect it completely – I don’t like it very much – but I still want to support my friends. I’m a strong character in the show and they won’t have that anymore.
"No one will argue with the judges."
Shirley Ballas plays down Brendan Cole ‘feud’
