'Strictly Come Dancing' Lulu: 'Brendan Cole pairing was horrifying'

Strictly Come Dancing star Lulu has admitted to initially being "horrified" at the prospect of performing with Brendan Cole.

Recalling her stunned reaction to the pairing on Strictly's launch show, the 'Boom Bang-A-Bang' singer explained that she had been concerned by Cole's reputation as a "really tough" teacher.

"I'd heard that he was really tough and a really hard teacher," she told the Sunday Mirror. "I was scared of getting him. Couple that with the fact he's so much taller than me and he was the last person I wanted. [Launch night] wasn't acting, I was horrified."

© BBC

However, Lulu clarified that she was now delighted to have Cole as a partner, going on to praise the 35-year-old for being patient when rehearsals go wrong.

"He's an absolute sweetheart really. He's ­adorable," she said. "There have been some very low points and I have cried on a couple of occasions.

"I spend a lot of the time sliding down the wall in despair. I feel very sorry for Brendan, but it does frustrate me when he says, 'Let's do it again, let's do it again'. That can get on my nerves."

Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight (October 23) at 7.25pm on BBC One.