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Strictly's Dixon encouraged by Forsyth's show of support
Last updated at 08:20am on 28.09.09Strictly Come Dancing's controversial new judge Alesha Dixon said she felt able to "relax and be myself" after settling onto the show's judging panel.
The decision to replace veteran choreographer Arlene Phillips with the show's 2007 champion sparked angry comments on its website chat room with viewers complaining that the singer lacks the technical knowledge to judge others.
But former jockey Richard Dunwoody, who was booted off the show on Saturday, backed Dixon, saying she was "absolutely fantastic" as a judge.
"We all thought last week that she was good but this week she was excellent," he said.
"She's bringing a different voice to the panel as she's been there and done it and she's able to give really good advice."
Dixon said: "Last week naturally I was just settling in.
"There has been a massive build up to the show and there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders.
"This week, however, I was able to relax and be myself."
Dixon's first weekend on the judging panel attracted angry criticism that her comments.
Host Bruce Forsyth repeatedly commented on Dixon's difficult week during Friday night's show, saying the criticism was "unfair" and the whole crew supported her.
Some viewers accused him of "patronising" Dixon but the singer said: "Brucie is a sweetheart and has always supported me ever since I was in the show in 2007.
"His words of support were encouraging and very lovely."
Although Saturday's Strictly closed the gap slightly in the ratings war with ITV talent show The X Factor, it still came runner-up for the second week.
The difference in peak audiences fell from two million last week to 1.4 million on Saturday.
The X Factor's audience peaked at 10.1 million, compared to 10.7 million a week earlier.
Strictly's audience equalled its previous Saturday night peak with 8.7 million watching at 7.55pm, just before the start of the rival show.
The X Factor had an average audience of 8.9 million, down from 9.3 million a week earlier, but was still a million viewers ahead of Strictly's average of 7.9 million which had risen 200,000 on the previous week.
Strictly starts at the earlier time of 7pm on Saturday when the 14 remaining couples will compete against each other for the first time, dancing the quickstep or the paso doble.
Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle, who plays Calvin Valentine in the Channel 4 soap opera, is the bookies' favourite to win the show after topping the judges' scoreboard at the weekend.
Ladbrokes yesterday cut the odds on Whittle from 6/4 to 5/4 after head judge Len Goodman told him: "You are the one to beat."
Spokesman Robin Hutchison said: "Whittle is definitely the one to beat - he's the red hot favourite in our book."
Ali Bastian, The Bill's PC Sally Armstrong, is hot on Whittle's heels at 7/2 after getting the highest score the previous week.
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Reader views (7)
Lighten up you numpties! - it's only a bliddy game show - 99% of the population couldn't even tell you what dance they were watching let alone appreciate an expert's opinion and the only true expert on the panel is Len apparently (lovely old fella!) - who explains what he's seeing in such a way that the 99% can understand!
- Paddy, London
Forsyth and Dixon, one an unqualified amateur and one past his sell-by-date, must, if Strictly is to maintain credibility, be shown the door asap.
- Ted, London
Alesha has been put in a difficult position by the BBC...she is out of her depth & her comments spoil the show...she should leave it the professional judges!
- Brian Church, London
Give the girl a chance at least she brings a spark of light to the jury.
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh UK
I'm more concerned about doddering Bruce. He was just terrible on Friday - bumbling and making such awful, time wasting and desperate jokes that on more than one occasion the camera panned around and caught someone (one of the professional dancers normally) looking equally horrified at his poor performance. I know half the British population think he's a national treasure but surely it's time for him to resign gracefully before he's pushed?
- Isabel, Woking
Time for Brucie to go.
- Paul, London
The British Dance Council have confirmed that to judge a dancing competition the judge has to be a paid-up member of the dance teachers' organisation and hold associate qualifications. This, therefore, means that the BBC have knowingly employed an unqualified, uneducated, inarticulate amateur as a judge on Strictly.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
