Dame Arlene Phillips reveals brutal way she learned about Strictly axing
Dame Arlene Phillips was an original judge on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 until 2008.
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Dame Arlene Phillips learned she had been axed from the BBC show on the radio - a day after her agent died.
The choreographer, an original judge from 2004 until 2008, was blindsided by the bosses' decision to replace her with 2007 winner, singer Alesha Dixon, now 47, for the 2009 series.
Recalling the brutal way she found out about being axed, Arlene, now 83, said on Vanessa Feltz's YouTube series: "My long-time agent, beautiful, brilliant Michael Somerton, he passed away the day before, so I was like already a mess, let alone being told by 5 Live, 'Good morning, we want to know how you feel about being replaced by Alesha Dixon on Strictly Come Dancing?'
"And it was like 7.15 in the morning, and I said, 'Sorry, I’ve just had a bereavement; I’ll get back to you.'
"Put the phone down, like, what are they talking about? Is this real?
"Called every exec I knew, called everybody, I didn’t get through till 1 o’clock when one of their PRs called me, and outside in my garden it was packed with press."
Arlene, who was on the judging panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, now 61, Bruno Tonioli, now 70, and the late Len Goodman, thinks she was let go from Strictly Come Dancing because of not having a "singular identity".
The entertainer explained: "Craig is never nice, and I think Bruno was always crazy; I think Len was knowledgeable.
"I think, and only in reflection, that I would say, 'Not good enough', quite sharply, and, 'You need to work on this, you could be good.'"
Vanessa, 64, who finished 14th on the 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing, asked if it her axing "boiled down to ageism", and Arlene replied: "I don't know because Len was older."
She added: "Honestly, they felt that the brand should be allowed to be free to do what they want."
Alesha quit as a judge following the 2011 series and was replaced by Dame Darcey Bussell, now 57, whose last series was in 2018.
The current line-up is Craig, Shirley Ballas, 66, Motsi Mabuse, 45, and Anton Du Beke, 60, and they will once again be scrutinising the celebrities' dance routines on the new series.
Taking part are EastEnders icon Lacey Turner, 38, Neighbours alum Delta Goodrem, 41, Love Island alums Cach Mercer, 25, and 30-year-old Dani Dyer - who withdrew last year due to an ankle injury - and 43-year-old celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton.
Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, 48, Babs actress Jaime Winstone, 41, football player-turned-pundit Shaun Wright-Phillips, 44, and House of the Dragon's Bethany Antonia, 28, are also taking to the dance floor.
Completing the line-up are dog trainer Graeme Hall, 60, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, 34, Olympic skeleton gold medallist Tabby Stoecker, 25, YouTube star John Nellis, 33, and 64-year-old Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday (19.09.26) when hosts Emma Willis, 50, Josh Widdicombe, 43, and Johannes Radebe, 39, introduce the contestants to their professional partners on the launch show.
The live competition format kicks off the following week, Saturday, September 26.
However, the first results show and elimination will not air until Sunday, October 4, and it has been confirmed that the winners of this year's Glitterball Trophy will be revealed on Saturday, December 19.
