Fiona Phillips Reveals Trauma from Strictly Partner Brendan Cole

Fiona Phillips has revealed that her experience on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 was far from the glamorous portrayal on TV, describing it as an 'incredibly traumatic' time during which she was often on the brink of tears due to her professional dance partner Brendan Cole's harsh behaviour, including shouting and criticism. In her upcoming memoir, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, Phillips recounts how she felt exhausted and questioned her participation in the show, especially as she was dealing with personal challenges such as placing her mother in a care home. She admitted to blocking out much of the experience because of the trauma and was relieved when she and Cole were voted out in week four. Cole, who did not have his Strictly contract renewed in 2018 after 13 years on the show, tearfully announced this decision publicly, acknowledging his emotional response. Phillips has also linked the resurfacing of footage of Cole's treatment of her to the show's bullying investigation, highlighting the distress it caused her. The revelations come as Phillips battles Alzheimer's disease, diagnosed in 2022, and shares insights into both her career and personal struggles in her book.