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Strictly's Alesha breaks her silence over Arlene

Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon
  • Posted at 11:55am
  • 22 September 2009
  • by WilliamGallagher-RT
  • 17 comments

"It's nonsense to say that I'm not qualified to judge the dancers," Alesha Dixon tells Radio Times exclusively. "If anything, the controversy has sparked the fighter in me."

Strictly Come Dancing champion Alesha's replacing Arlene Phillips caused storms among fans, with newspapers decrying the change and Harriet Harman raising questions about it in the House of Commons. It was ageist, they claimed - Arlene is 66 while Alesha is 30 - and Dixon only got the job because of her looks.

"When I read that I only won in 2007 because I was half-naked, I did take that seriously," she says. "That's not someone offering a considered opinion, that's someone being a bitch.

"It was all a shock to me, especially how quickly everyone jumped on the ageism argument. Maybe people wanted to start a catfight. But I didn't see it as an argument between Arlene and me. We were just caught in the middle.

"I'm ready to show that there's a lot more substance to me. I spent six years singing with Mis-Teeq, and another four as a solo artist where I had to pick my own dancers and audition them. Also, having competed on the show, I'll be the only judge who understands what the celebrities are going through. Unless you've walked in those shoes you'll never know how demanding it is."

Arlene Phillips has moved over to being The One Show's Strictly Come Dancing expert, and is also set to become a judge on BBC1's So You Think You Can Dance from January. You can see more of Alesha Dixon as she and the other Strictly judges re-create scenes from West Side Story for the new issue of Radio Times.

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For some great Strictly content, including photo galleries and Len Goodman's guide to the cha-cha-cha, check out our Strictly page - and don't miss our incisive weekly blog.

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Comments

  • Posted on 10 November 2009
  • at 2:01am
  • by Heidi

I can't belive everyone is being so negative about Alysha. I think she's a lovely woman and is doing a good job. She was fantastic when she won Striclty and she has every right to judge people going throught the same thing. GO GIRL!!!

  • Posted on 02 October 2009
  • at 6:53pm
  • by jasmine

i dont watch strictly anymore, bring back arlene or someone with some authority on the matter, sorry but Alesha is boring

  • Posted on 27 September 2009
  • at 7:16pm
  • by james

bruce 82-sergeant 65 Len65 hardly agist Eileen was dis-loyal-going around tv stations trying to get their viewers to vote John Sergeant out-you don't do that If your working for the BBC

  • Posted on 27 September 2009
  • at 3:24pm
  • by Jan

I truly object to Arlene being replaced by Aleisha. Its nothing to do with the fact that Alesha is just dullbut that the BBC is a publically funded organisation wnd should be setting a good example to other broadcasters not grovelly after them. Of course it is ageist and sexist to replace Arlene with Alesha - why replace the one older woman and leave all the old men in place. There can be only one reason- the Beeb thought they would attract more viewers by dumbing down and shoving on the totty. I'd like to know who is responsible for this silly decision and what they get paid out of our licence fee. If they felt a change was required (wrong) all they had to do was add Alesha as an extra judge and have 5 judges - 3 men and 2 women. Its all much too long now - For the first time I haven't watched this weekend.

  • Posted on 25 September 2009
  • at 5:48pm
  • by strictly balls

Errrr… Its not a dancing competition, its a popularity/entertainment show. Hence the Beeb introduce someone who is....popular and an entertainer. Perhaps it was nerves about doing the job that meant she erred on the side of caution with her comments, I'm sure she'll startt slagging them off soon! And besides I'd rather drool over Alesha than watch Arlene drool over blokes arses.

  • Posted on 25 September 2009
  • at 4:37pm
  • by Sally

Alesha brought nothing to SCD but has taken much away in my opinion.Now we hear that she is to see the competitors practice. Resign now Alesha and keep your dignity. No matter what you think or have been told you do NOT have the experience to judge a dancing competition.The general public don't need you to tell us what the dancers are going through. They can tell us themselves. You DO NOT represent my opinions.

I am bitterly disappointed that once again the BBC is in danger of dumbing down successful and well loved programmes

  • Posted on 25 September 2009
  • at 3:09pm
  • by Chris

Hardly enough time to judge Alesh really, so comments are unfair. Arlene couldn't deliver a decent line at all. She stumbled over her poorly scripted lines, designed to bring the audience to a raucous applause. It always failed.

  • Posted on 25 September 2009
  • at 1:10pm
  • by Lyn

Alesha added absolutely nothing to the first shows. "I know how nervous you were" is hardly a critique on someone's ability or performance. The old format wasn't broke - so why do this to it? It makes no sense, but it has made it easier for me to chose between X-Factor and SCD.... X-factor all the way now....

  • Posted on 25 September 2009
  • at 12:30pm
  • by Jayne

I also have to fast forward through Aleesha's comments, she has no idea. All she can say are 'your arms were a bit fly away for me'. I also fast forward through Bruce, he thinks he is funny.....he isn't! Hence, I never watch it live, always record!

  • Posted on 25 September 2009
  • at 12:02pm
  • by Daphne

I have enjoyed Strictly enormously for the last few years, but sadly I think it has gone completely off the rails this year - I miss Arlene and her clever, pertinent comments, am embarrased by Bruce who is way past his sell by date, and the shows are just too long.

  • Posted on 24 September 2009
  • at 6:48pm
  • by Ann

I have never felt the need to write about anything to do with T.V. and don't watch other "reality" shows. However, I do enjoy dance and made a point of watching this one. Of course I shall not continue to do so since it was decided to take an experienced and also the most credible judge off the panel and replace her with someone purely because of her age and looks. It is obvious that this was the case. What I can't work out is why the three old boys continue to be on the panel. Clearly it's because the old boys at the BBC think that women want to watch old men (incorrect!) and that other men must have their "totty," even when the replacement is clearly inferior.

  • Posted on 24 September 2009
  • at 1:26pm
  • by Tracy

I have got nothing against Aleisha, but she is nowhere near qualified enough to judge the dancers. I noticed that she copies what the other judges have said and can only really know if she has choreographed like Arlene or had years of experience.

  • Posted on 23 September 2009
  • at 9:43pm
  • by Emily

The decision to replace Arlene was clearly ageism (and one might add misogyny)in action. If the producers want to put anyone out to pasture they should retire Bruce Forsyth. I can't bear to watch him sleezing over Tess Daly.

  • Posted on 23 September 2009
  • at 8:44pm
  • by Mark Swift

I am a 33 year old man who would much rather look at Alesha than Arlene, but when it comes to judging dancing, Arlene wins hands downs. Stop playing silly b****rs and bring Arlene back!

  • Posted on 23 September 2009
  • at 7:49pm
  • by Lin

Give the girl a chance. I loved Arlene but things move on and Alysha must be nervous after all the adverse comments. She sounded a bit desperate and I'm not surprised.

  • Posted on 23 September 2009
  • at 12:55pm
  • by Colin

the show is a farce-- Len disagrees with anything, anything , that Craig says or votes on, Bruno acts the fool and the new girl knows nothing about dance ( ok she won the competition once.

Retire Len and Bruno, replace with dancers from the wider spectrum of dance, replace Aleisha with a more respected entertainer (Terry?) and , if there is a spilt vote on teh danec off then the highest public vote wins, not Len's biased view

  • Posted on 22 September 2009
  • at 8:36pm
  • by Karen

I found myself fast forwarding through Alesha's comments as she seemed to be repeating what the other judges were saying. I feel she is not qualified to give opinions on the dancers and think that they should have used someone like Karen or Camilla who have had many years of experience.

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