Brendan

AMY Dowden has taken the high road in response to ex-Strictly pro Brendan Cole’s remarks about her abilities as a dancer.

Brendan – who featured as a pro on the show from 2004 until 2017 – brutally claimed that Amy has “not been doing a very good job”, despite returning to the show after undergoing treatment for grade three aggressive breast cancer.

Brendan made the dig after Amy was the first to be voted off this year’s Strictly for the second year in a row, this time with her partner Chris Appleton.

In a new interview with The Mirror, Amy addressed Brendan’s comments, saying: “I’ll be honest, what do you expect from him?

“It’s fine – I’ve never been brought up to be personal, and in this day and age especially I think it’s so important to be kind, and to think about the next generation.

“I always try to use my platform in the right way – I work with various charities.

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“But also I want to be the right kind of role model.

“I run a dance academy and all my little boys and girls really look up to me.

“That’s important.”

Amy had also reacted to Brendan’s comments in an Instagram post, shortly after he made the remarks.

Dressed in a glittering ballroom dress, she lip-synced and danced to the iconic Mariah Carey track Obsessed. 

She also penned the caption: “If you know, you know #bekind #inaworldyoucanbeanythingbekind”

Brendan’s remarks came during a chat with Sky Vegas, where the 50-year-old, who exited Strictly a decade ago, said: “To be a pro on Strictly is a big job and one has to be up to the challenge. 

“Amy has not been up to the challenge, in my opinion.

“I don’t think Amy’s been doing a very good job for the last few years and she’s been out first for the last few years. One can do the maths on that.

“She’s standing out there counting him in. She’s counting every step for him.

“It’s very obvious that the job has not been done, and I don’t think people are enjoying it.”

Amy’s fans were seething at his words, calling Brendan “wrong” and ordering him to “leave her alone”.

Writing underneath The Sun’s story about Brendan’s comments, one user said: “It’s really wrong to have any complaints re Amy, she has been through a lot, and paired with a few contestants who were not ‘gifted’.”

“Leave her alone. Don’t you think she has been through enough, and to be the first one out is taking its toll on her,” said a second, as a third echoed: “How dare he say these awful things. Amy is immensely talented. His comments are plain cruel. Never liked his arrogant attitude.”

Saracens are set to receive a series of fines from Prem Rugby due to director of rugby Brendan Venter’s failure to fulfil media commitments.

It is understood the club have already been handed a £5,000 sanction after Venter was not present at the Prem’s pre-season launch day.

The South African also did not speak to the media before, during or after the opening-weekend victory at Leicester.

The Daily Telegraph reported earlier on Tuesday, external that Venter “resigned” as director of rugby last month and took up a new role of “head of rugby culture and wine consultant”, with head coach Joe Shaw assuming responsibility for media commitments.

The report also claims Saracens asked permission in July for Shaw to front the club’s media commitments.

However, none of this has been confirmed by the club nor Prem Rugby.

It is also thought a change of job title would not preclude Venter from his contractual responsibilities.

Saracens announced in January that Venter would be returning to the club as director of rugby and have yet to confirm any change to his day-to-day responsibilities.

He succeeded Mark McCall, who stepped down at the end of last season after 15 trophy-laden years in the job.

Venter’s first spell as Sarries’ director of rugby, which began in 2009, also included clashes with authorities over media commitments.

In September 2010, the club apologised to European Rugby Cup (ERC) officials for then-captain Steve Borthwick’s failure to attend the Heineken Cup launch at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Borthwick, now England head coach, was the only missing representative from the coaches and captains of 12 English, Welsh and Scottish clubs attending the event.

He had been told by Saracens to instead attend a team bonding session at a beer festival in Munich.

In December 2010, Venter himself was warned by European Rugby Cup officials for a post-match interview after his side’s 24-21 Heineken Cup loss to Racing Metro, in which he repeatedly gave short answers, agreeing with whatever was being asked.

He later said it was inspired by a scene in the football mockumentary film, Mike Bassett: England Manager.

Venter left his full-time role at Saracens halfway through the 2010–11 season, to be replaced by McCall.