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Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips is reportedly heartbroken after being axed from the new series of the BBC1 show.
The choreographer, who has remained tight-lipped since being sacked, emailed a friend to say "I'm really sad", reports the Daily Mirror.
Her friend, 63-year-old former dancer Debbie Moore, told the paper: "She's devastated. I sent an email asking how she was and got a one-line reply saying how sad she was. I'm really angry she's being treated like this. She loved the show and said it was the best thing she's ever done.
"Replacing her with Alesha Dixon doesn't make sense. Arlene is a world-class choregrapher. If they wanted Alesha, they should have got rid of one of the men. The BBC are going to alienate the existing viewers."
The Daily Mirror also revealed the results of a poll which claims that 17% of viewers will not watch the new series because of Arlene's sacking.
Half of the people who voted also believed that the BBC was being ageist by getting rid of 66-year-old Arlene in favour of 30-year-old former winner Alesha.
Will you be turning off Strictly in protest at Arlene's sacking? Do you think she has been treated unfairly or maybe you think Alesha will help to breathe new life into the show? Let us know what you think...
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I think the BBC has completed lost the plot, how can a singer replace a choregrapher and more to the point how can she judge the professional dancers, it is absolutely absurb and certainly smacks of being ageist. Fran, Germany
Posted by: frankendall68 on Mon Jul 27 02:03PM | Report abuseI don't really think they should have replaced Arlene Phillips with Alesha Dixon but there are other younger exprienced dancer,choreographers out there who could have filled her shoes very well.
Posted by: janb60 on Mon Jul 27 02:13PM | Report abuseWhat can Alesha bring to the show "a pretty face" - nothing wrong with that, but alas, it cannot replace experience which Arlene has in abundance. Why is it, we older women have to make way for "beauty" we once looked good, remember they too will age, how will they like it?Wrong, wrong, say I!!!!
Posted by: vanzantwijk on Mon Jul 27 02:16PM | Report abuseArlene has expert knowledge and fair criticism which is far better than a pretty face with limited experience and sugary sweet answers. Maybe she has sex appeal to the directors of the bbc but Arlene is being very unfairly treated and Alesha will certainly not breathe new life into the show. To do that get a replacement for Bruce and Tess i.e Anton and Andrea McLean from A&J
Posted by: annette4john on Mon Jul 27 02:18PM | Report abuseI don't think they shouls replace Arlene with Alesha. I like Alesha , but until she did the show she had no idea of what the dance steps she performed where called !! she is no expert like Arlene . And I think the BBC should realise that the show IS a Dance competition , not an entertainment show!!!! I think she would judge on how the celebrities look and how hard they try, not on how well they perform the steps. I think the BBC have made a huge mistake
Posted by: kirky241 on Mon Jul 27 02:21PM | Report abuseA mistake to get rid of expert Arlene. Bring in Alesha if necessary but get rid of BRUCE. He is a figure of fun and certainly NOT funny. Maybe Craig is the one to be replaced?
Posted by: berylweston2 on Mon Jul 27 02:21PM | Report abuseArlene is a world class choregrapher she should have stayed I can't believe she has been sacked, what qualifications has Alesha got, the most stupid decision of all times.
Posted by: nicola.wilkes on Mon Jul 27 02:24PM | Report abuseI won't be switching off because it's a great show and I won't particularly miss Arlene's comments to be honest but I don't think the Beeb should have brought in Alesha Dixon as she can hardly be classified as a dancing expert. How is she going to know when the steps are accurately performed? Apart from the formulated comments, what was wrong with Arlene anyway? I thought the judges were well balanced as they were.
Posted by: clare_sabine on Mon Jul 27 02:29PM | Report abuseI certainly will not watch it. The BBC does have a bunch of morons who take these stupid decisions and yet again they are wasting the money that I pay. Who the hell makes these errors?
Posted by: jeanandian08 on Mon Jul 27 02:31PM | Report abusei WAS an avid fan of strictly.....not anymore....all though A Dixon is a fabulous dancer you can not possibly compare her knowledge to that of arlenes, how will she be able to judge without that knowledge???? arlene brought glamour, wit and a huge knowledge to the show. such a shame
Posted by: katie.williams7 on Mon Jul 27 02:34PM | Report abuse