Brendan Cole has defended new Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon, saying that she coped well on her first series of the show.

Cole told Wales Online: “The BBC make their decision and we participate. Whatever decisions they make, they are doing it for the best interests of the viewers. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s not for us to get involved.

“From the start, Alesha was in a no-win situation. For the most part, she handled herself well and fitted in as if she had been there for years.”

On Chris Hollins winning the series, Cole said: “The final was phenomenal. Chris deserved to win. He worked hard to get there.”