Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has branded her exit from the BBC dance competition as ‘tough’ as she gave her opinion on the latest scandals
Arlene Phillips has admitted she found her Strictly Come Dancing exit “tough,” after being suddenly replaced without warning. The dancer and former judge, 82, saw her departure from the hit BBC competition spark an ageism row as Alesha Dixon, then 30, took her place.
Despite having decades of experience as a dancer and choreographer, Arlene found out about the bosses’ decision through the radio rather than being told directly. Controversy has continued to surround the dance competition over the years, with actress Amanda Abbington sparking a bullying row.
She had accused her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, of bullying during their time together in 2023, which he denied. This year, the drama off stage continued once again as Wynne Evans was booted off the tour due to his behaviour.
Arlene has since opened up on her own exit as well as the scandals that have followed. She told The Sunday Times: “I loved my time on Strictly and it was tough when I left, but I got up and carried on with life.
“I wasn’t there when accusations of bullying were made against some of the dancers, but I was quite strict when I started teaching.” The dancer credits her children with learning how to communicate without losing her temper.
“I realised there was a different way to talk to people when I had a child – I didn’t want to lose my temper,” she confessed. “There are ways to get people to do as you want without shouting.”
Last year, Arlene admitted she ‘kicked, screamed and sobbed’ when she found out she was getting the boot from her beloved show. She had joined Strictly in 2004, but after the show wrapped in 2008, Arlene found out she’d got the chop.
Speaking out about the axe in a chat with the Mirror, the decorated Dame candidly admitted how she dealt with the news. She revealed: “I gave myself 48 hours to kick, scream, cry and sob, and eat scones with cream and jam, then I made myself wake up and get on with it.”
Arlene went on to admit she felt she didn’t ask the right questions after finding out the news, having later had more time to reflect. She continued: “I was very fragile because I had a bereavement the day before [her manager died].
“I wanted to know in detail and I wanted to know the real reason at the point when they decided for me to go, yet they kept me hanging on for so long with the possibility that there would be five judges.”
At the time, it was rumoured that Arlene was axed because BBC thought she ‘too old.’ However, she claimed she still didn’t know the reason why when she was dropped and replaced by Alesha, who had never critiqued a dance show – but was crowned Strictly champion.
When reflecting on the abrupt end to her time on the show, Arlene exuded elegance, stating: “I’m a grown up so when life comes along and it doesn’t go the way you want, you just get on with it.”
However, when quizzed about the possibility of rejoining the show, the former judge was unequivocally resolute, affirming: “They would never ask me so I would never think about it. It’s not even an option.”
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