Arlene Phillips hits out at BBC over way she was axed from Strictly Come Dancing

Arlene Phillips has slammed the BBC after she only found she had been sacked from Strictly Come Dancing after a journalist had gotten in touch.

Choreographer Arlene, 80, was a mainstay on the show’s initial four series, forming the only woman on the panel. On the show, she joined the likes of Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood to give their thoughts on the celebrity couples and their dancing.

But after being a great addition to the show from 2004, BBC bosses eventually called time on Arlene’s stint on the show, instead replacing her with future Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, 44.

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Following the news of Arlene’s departure going public, the broadcaster came under fire from fans and media alike. The controversy surrounding her sacking raised questions on sexism and ageism – which reached the House of Commons by then Equalities Minister Harriet Harman.

Now, in an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Arlene opened up on how she felt when she heard the news, revealing that she was first alerted to the fact she had lost her job after a journalist had reached out to her for comment.

“I was a grownup when I did that show, so I resent that the BBC didn’t come to me as soon as they had the thought,” she explained. “More than knocking my confidence, I think it swirled around me, and I thought, ‘I need to find myself.’

“I needed all the mental preparation that I could muster to go: ‘Hang on a minute – you had a big career before this and you’ve got work lined up.’ I think I stepped up and out of it as fast as I could. When the rollercoaster goes down, find the up,” she added.

Phillips was a well-respected member of the ballroom community, and eventually went on to find work elsewhere. In 2010, Arlene appeared as a judge on the piloted new series of So You Think You Can Dance? on BBC One, working as a judge for the show’s three series.

Arlene also paid tribute to her former co-star Len Goodman, who tragically passed away last year. After being diagnosed with bone cancer, Arlene said she was devastated at the news the 78-year-old had died.

She recalled on BBC Breakfast in September: “It was such a loss, and it was so sudden for many of us because only a few people knew. Bruno knew, but few people actually knew.

“It was a real shock, particularly as Len and I, we were there at the pilot. We made the pilot and it was wonderfully, brilliantly chaotic, and Len and I spent many hours trying to form what the show would be and we were the bodies that were lucky enough to do that.”

Olivier Award-nominated Arlene is continuing to work hard in the industry, earning a nod at the prestigious theatre awards show last week. She, alongside associate James Cousins, were nominated for the Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for their work on Guys and Dolls.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk