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Strictly Come Dancing stars have been gagged by the BBC in a secret memo that tells them what they can and can't say.
Dancers, celebrities and judges were given strict guidance on how to handle the backlash against the decision to replace Arlene Phillips, 66, with Alesha Dixon. The move has caused fury among those taking part. One said: "It's as if they are trying to brainwash us."
The memo gives answers to a series of questions including: "Is the BBC being ageist/sexist?" The answer is: "Age or gender has absolutely nothing to do with the decision to replace Arlene." They are also told to say new judge Dixon, 30, "is a great performer ... she will add a new voice to the panel".
A BBC spokesman said it was "ludicrous" to suggest the guidance was banning or gagging anyone.
Reader views (10)
Paul from London, firstly if what you state was true, then what would that have to do with it? Cheryl Cole judges a singing competition! Secondly, you are obviously unaware that Cheryl was actually a dancer (and I believe, choreographer) pre Girls Aloud. (I so want to say 'ner' here 
)
- Debs, Kent
The difference between Alesha and Cheryl is that Alesha can dance!
- Paul, London
If the BBC wanted Alesha on the show why not make her the fifth judge and avoid old Len having 2 votes.
If money is the problem why not let her replace the talentless Tess.
- Lynne Varley, wakefield england
It is blatently obvious that the BBC are fully aware of the mistake that they have made but are totally incapable and unwilling to admit it.
They have a history of starting with something in their own style and then changing the format to mimic their rival, ITV. See, Fame Academy which started as a diary live in show, showing song writing, dance and singing lessons as well those qualified picking who performed at the end of the week for the public vote. You got to know the contestants in greater depth. It was later changed to be just another copy of Pop Idol/X Factor. Now it seems the BBC have latched onto the glamour factor of the panel on their rivals show, rather than valuing the expertise and experience that they had. The only problem they have ever had with this show has been the voting system. Someone should tell them 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
Shame on the BBC. In desperately trying to pretend that all is fine, they've now have quite clearly resorted to ordering their 'employees' to tow the company line.
I vehemently disagree with Bob of Cheam. The vast majority of viewers want input from the judges that they couldn't provide themselves, an experts view. I'm sure publicly educated Mark Ramprakash and John Sargent (amongst other, including journalists, newsreaders and many other far from ignorant contestants) appreciate your comments about their lack of intelligence.
- Debs, Kent
Sounds like the BBC is being advised by Meedlesome!
- Tojo, Hythe
It must have been an insult to the dancers to listen to Alesha utter banal comments peppered with grammatical errors. What professional qualifications does she have to judge dance competitions? If she has none and the BBC have knowingly employed her to replace a qualified, highly experienced judge such as Arlene - then there must be legal implications.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
The BBC are swiftly turning this whole situation from a farce in to an absolute disgrace.
Telling people what they can and can't say is crazy. This is 21st century Britain, not cold war Russia. If they're going to carry on like this they may as well rename themselves "Pravda" and send people off to the Gulag if their papers aren't in order.
Obviously the BBC wanted a "Cheryl Cole" style of judge. There is a huge difference however between judging a singing contest, and judging a dance show... Anyone can tell when someone is a useless singer, but technical knowledge is imperative when judging a dance contest. Without it, people won't take what she says seriously, and she'll just look stupid and way out of her depth.
I had to laugh when she defended herself on Monday by saying she was in a great position to judge because she had 4 MONTHS experience of dance. How many years did Arlene have? 30 wasn't it? It makes me thing that she's totally oblivious to her shortcomings.
I look forward tot he later rounds when it gets rather heated, and either one of the other judges or professional dancers snaps and tells everyone exactly what they think. It's going to happen, and it will result in GREAT TV. Fact.
- Marcus, South Kensington
That doesn't surprise me one bit. It was quite obvious that Craig had done a u turn when he appeared on *It takes Two* on Monday night.
We all know that Karen Hardy was axed for being too old for a dancer at 39, she would still be the youngest judge though. What a good judge she would make as well. She was just totally great on *It takes Two* last night.
- Niecie, London
Q. "Have the BBC producers put a hole in the hull of a formerly great show?" -- A. "BBC producers fully appreciate the talent they employ and understand what the public want and would never knowingly destroy their own product". Mine's a G&T.
- Bloke, Lambeth
Let's be brutally honest here, it's hardly as though the contestants are intellectual enough to say anything worth listening to anyway, and even if they were, the vast majority of the viewers probably wouldn't understand the big words.
- Bob, Cheam
