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It's strictly the axe for celeb judge Arlene Phillips
Georgina Littlejohn, London LiteUpdated 13:29pm on 18 Jun 2009
Arlene Phillips has been dropped from Strictly Come Dancing, it was reported today.
Last dance: Arlene to leave judging panel
The 66-year-old choreographer was told last night she wouldn't be returning as a judge for the seventh series of the celebrity reality show.
Following top-level talks, BBC1 bosses decided they wanted to inject some youth and glamour into the show and have reportedly replaced her with pop star Alesha Dixon.
Although no contracts have been signed, they hope Dixon, 30, who was the winner in series five of the show, will be the "perfect replacement".
A source said: "It's nothing personal against Arlene - she's been brilliant.
"But the bosses want to bring in younger viewers - the 16- to 34-year-olds that X Factor mops up."
Phillips has been with the show since it launched in 2004, but came under fire last year when she criticised journalist and broadcaster John Sergeant's efforts as a contestant.
Dixon saw her career take off after she beat former EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo, 22, to win Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. The source went on: "Alesha knows a thing or two about dancing."
Producers also plan to bring over more American dancers and sign up some top celebs in an attempt to encourage raunchier routines.
The new series, starting in autumn, is expected to be scheduled head -to-head with The X Factor on some weekends.
Reader views (11)
I'm 19 years old, and i've been watching the show since the year Darren won.
I'm completely outraged that Arlene has been axed, the fact that Alesha will take her place doesn't make me more enthusiastic about the show, it makes me wonder how she will manage to judge people who are clearly better and more experienced than her.
None of my friends have ever really watched the show, and i knwo 100% that the presence of Alesha will not make them more inclined to watch.
She was brilliant on the show and i loved her, but she's no Cheryl Cole. No one will tune in just for her.
The BBC need to really think about what they're doing here.
- Jenny, Harrogate, 13/07/2009 13:02
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BBC has made some stupid decisions but this tops them fancy getting rid of Arlene with her experience and the fact that the whole panel works so well together. Alesha may be pretty and young but I do not feel she is qualified to comment on the complexity of the dances.
Change your mind BBC!
Veronica, Bedfordshire
- Veronica, Pepperstock, United Kingdom, 10/07/2009 12:24
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If Arlene is dropped from the shop and replaced by Aleisha then I will no longer watch the show. Arlene and the other judges make the show credible because of their experience and knowledge about dancing. Arlene is there because she can be a judge. Aleisha is there because she is young and beautiful and not a good reason to be a judge. Its stupid to copy the X factor reasons for replacing Sharon with Cheryl to get higher ratings and for commmercial reasons because X factor is a completely different show.
- V Sanhye, London, UK, 22/06/2009 10:41
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Please do not change strictly.Alesha is a lovely person but Arlene must stay. DO NOT change a wonderful show. Leave it as it is.
- Ann Gardiner, Rickmanswoth England, 21/06/2009 15:08
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Why change the judges ,they are great , they bounce off each other very well . I think Arlene is great she is still a good looking woman and she knows what she is talking about , very often she is the calm between the two men . I really like Alesha and she was great on the show but it would be the wrong thing to give her Arlene's job . BBC if you want too change anything change your staff as it seems to me that you are the ones that are always making such terrible decisions about things , this isn't the first terrible decision made . If Arlene is happy to stay then please keep her .
- Linda, North East , England, 19/06/2009 19:09
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Please not Alesha Dixon. She is not even the best amateur of the series. Jill Halfpenny is still the best female amateur and has a great personality.I agree that Camilla would be a really good choice. She knows her stuff and is glamorous and young.
- Joanie Parnell, swansea, 19/06/2009 12:56
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Arlene Phillips is an iconic figure who know's what she is talking about. If anything they should include Alesha Dixon and get rid of one of the other two argumentative and rude judges who bring nothing but negativity and bitchiness to the show.
- Monty, Cornwall, England, 19/06/2009 11:53
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Oh dear !
The BBC cannot see further than there nose ends.....why change a winning formula,which is attracting the best TV audiences for years.
Watch out Brucie and Len....your next on the hit list....how sad.
- Bill Dowson, Birmingham, 18/06/2009 16:54
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Alesha was a brilliant champion on the show but she wouldn't be the correct choice. It requires a professional female dancer to fill this role. And why not the reigning champion hereself- Camilla Dallerup- she knows ballroom and latin. She'd be credible with her years of experience in dancing competitvely and as a professional
- Suzy Jardine, Durham, 18/06/2009 16:22
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I'm outraged. Yet another instance of a woman being cast aside because she has reached a certain age. Alesha Dixon, good as she is, does not have the experience and credentials in the world of dance that Arlene has. What about Len? How old is he? How about casting him aside and making Arlene Chair?
- Cath, Sheffield, England, 18/06/2009 14:48
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What an absolutely terrible idea. If you want to introduce a bit of glamour into the panel then at least choose someone who has a decent amount of experience as a professional dancer. This should be reasonably easy to achieve by just checking the West End for choreographers that fancy a bit of easy money.
- Ap, United Kingdom, 18/06/2009 14:16
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