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Alesha Dixon to replace Arlene Phillips on Strictly Come Dancing

Alesha Dixon and Darcey Bussell - Celebrity News - Marie Claire BBC

Alesha Dixon is set to replace Arlene Phillips as the female face of the Strictly Come Dancing panel.

The BBC has confirmed that the former winner of the show will be adding a fresh-faced glow to the panel, after ditching Arlene.

And prima ballerina Darcey Bussell is also set to shake things up by putting contestants through their paces, before joining the panel as a guest judge in the final weeks of the series.

The BBC has attempted to ease the severity of the blow to Arlene, by giving her a spot on The One Show, where she will report on Strictly.

Former Mis-Teeq star Alesha will act as a full-time Strictly judge as BBC bosses look to give the show a makeover.

Darcey will feature during the final three weeks of the 14-week series as part of the judging panel and will also be used on BBC2 spin-off show, It Takes Two.

BBC1 controller Jay Hunt denied any accusation of ageism, saying the show simply needed a ‘different flavour’.

She added: ‘Of course Arlene is disappointed. But, critically, she is incredibly excited about moving to The One Show.

'She knows at some point she is going to need to do something different with her career and this gives her the opportunity to become a face of factual on the channel and to be absolutely at the heart of what BBC1 does.’

Arlene added: 'I am delighted to be part of The One Show. I will miss Strictly. It has been a big part of my life.'

And we’ll miss her acerbic yet spot-on comments!

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Friday 10 July 2009


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Alesha might have won Strictly Come Dancing, but how can she replace Arlenes wealth of knowledge? Surely, shows such as this require brains and knowledge, rather than beauty.
Comment by Sue Carpenter on July 10 14:43

Alesha Dixon to replace Arlene Philips. Farcical. All she did was win a dance competition. Where is the experience and technical knowledge that gave this show authenticity. Who is the lame brain who thought this one up.
Comment by Yvonne on July 10 16:59

I will no longer watch this show which started off as a DANCING showcase and has now descended into a farce of a so called celebrity (does anyone know any of the has beens?)
Comment by cristine foster on July 11 09:46

Noooooo... it won't be the same. The combo of Bruno, Len, Arlene and Craig is great! They are losing a hell of a judge - plus I love finding out who she fancies the most each series! And can I ask why it's the female judge being replaced with a younger model?

There was no need for a makeover or improvement. Strictly works well as it is now.
Comment by Helen on July 12 11:43

Alesha has proved herself to be crap. Get Arlene back as soon as possible. boycotted.
Comment by Rosie on November 26 13:58

Alesha is arrogant and a dead loss, of no use as a judge. Get the expert Arlene back....... you are insulting the public, we are not dummies and we pay our licences....so listen to us!!
Comment by Kath on November 26 19:24

Alesha is an arrogant airhead, she is vulgar and coarse. She has wrecked the ratings of SCD.
Comment by Roy on November 28 12:23

Alesha has been horrible to the Strictly fans, dancers, Tess and now Joe Bugner. She is hated and is not suitable as a judge on SCD, get Arlene back.
Comment by Robert on November 28 17:07

Alesha has been nasty to Tess, now she is bitchy about Darcy! She has no right to call Joe Bugner a racist. She is having a detrimental effect on the show, we want Arlene back on the panel.
Comment by Felicity Wood on December 11 18:59


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