Dancer Brendan Cole's twirling his favourite partner around the living room and the tiny blue-eyed blonde shrieks with delight and demands one of his famous 'lifts'.

The handsome professional on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing has had a string of glamorous celebrity partners, including Kelly Brook and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, but clearly dancing with his two-year-old daughter Aurelia is in another league.

"She loves dancing, which is really sweet to see," beams the patently proud father.

He's packing in as many special moments with her because family time's going to be limited during his 48-date tour of the UK and Ireland with his dance spectacular, A Night To Remember, starting on January 27.

Cole describes the show as revealing "the real Brendan, who is more fun, naughty and cheeky away from Strictly".

"There's a wonderful cast and a fantastic programme of music and ballroom and Latin dance."

He's also allowing a rare glimpse into his private life as he chats at his 300-year-old Buckinghamshire cottage, which he shares with model wife Zoe Hobbs.

For years he had a reputation as the 'bad boy' of Strictly because of his feisty nature, his outspoken and sometimes scathing comments, and his romantic links to a bevy of beautiful women.

Most famously, his eight-year relationship to fiancée and fellow dancer, Camilla Dallerup fell apart after he danced with newsreader, Natasha Kaplinsky in the first Strictly series in 2004. Kaplinsky has always denied any involvement with Cole.

"I'm a different person these days," declares the 38-year-old who married Zoe, 32, in 2010 in front of Strictly stars and Sir Bruce Forsyth. Aurelia was born on Christmas Day, 2012.

"It was certainly close to love at first sight when I met Zoe, even though at first I thought she was so ridiculously attractive and I thought that she was far too good for me.

"When you're happy and fulfilled in a relationship, it gives you more stability and a different perspective on life. I was very outspoken in the past, but you change as you grow older and you become a bit more thoughtful and considered.

"I never want to do anything to embarrass my wife or daughter, whereas in the old days, when I was single, there wasn't anybody to worry about upsetting.

"I don't want Aurelia looking back on footage or reports of me when she's older and saying, 'My dad's an idiot'."

The New Zealander, who started dancing when he was six, has admitted that adjusting in his 20s to the level of fame he enjoyed in those early years of the series wasn't easy, but he's now the longest-serving professional dancer on the show, along with Anton du Beke, and that famous youthful volatility has been replaced by calm.

Although the opportunity to lift the glitter ball for the second time has as yet eluded him, he has reached the final with Lisa Snowdon and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. In the 12th series, he partnered Casualty star, Sunetra Sarker and the pair were eliminated in week 10.

The secret of success on Strictly, he insists, is where the professional dancer enjoys a rapport with the celebrity.

"You can fake it if you need to, but after a while, strained relationships will become obvious," he says.

"While Sunetra and I enjoyed a good relationship, juggling the training with her TV work was hard and we didn't have the time to bond like I have in the past with other celebrities."

Cole's only too aware that outside relationships can suffer when celebrities are caught up for months in intensive training - dubbed the 'curse' of Strictly. Most recently, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley split from her husband of 15 months shortly after taking part in the series.

"I always tell my dance partners, 'Get your boyfriend or husband as involved as they want to be' and then there's no problems of misunderstandings and jealousy."

His wife regularly visits rehearsals and has helped him create his touring show. "My work is a massive part of our lives - when I tour it's particularly hard on her because of my not always getting home - and so the rest of the time, I want her involved as much as possible in what I do," he says.

"Zoe's extremely supportive of me and I love her input because she looks at everything from the perspective of not being a dancer. Would I teach her to dance? Er no, I'd rather keep my marriage!"

Friendly and unassuming, Cole relishes every moment in the series and clearly appreciates his good fortune although he's not surprised by it.

"When Strictly came up, I took a chance on it, and then it was like everything came together. It's wonderful how much people love it and I feel privileged to be a part of it."

n Brendan Cole's A Night To Remember tour visits the Royal Concert Hall on March 1