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A Strictly Come Dancing The legend has reflected on the moment she was told her time was up on the BBC’s favorite dance competition.
After a tumultuous yearthe series celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, December 21 with a special episode featuring former contestants including Joe Sugg, Stacey Dooley and Bill Bailey.
Arlene Philips, 81, who was part Strictly’s inaugural judging panel Only Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli when the show launched in 2004, it was reflected in its unexpected exit.
When the show ended in 2008, the award-winning dancer and choreographer was told she would be replaced by Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon, now 46.
I’m talking to The MirrorDame Philips said of the axing: “I gave myself 48 hours to kick and scream and cry and sob and eat scones with cream and jam and then I woke up and got on with it.”
The former dancer explained that she now feels she should have asked BBC producers more questions after being told the news.
“I was very fragile because I had a bereavement the day before,” explained Philips, whose manager died shortly before the shocking news was announced.
“I wanted to know in detail and I wanted to know the real reason at the time they decided to leave,” she added.
“Yet they kept me for so long with the possibility of five judges.”
Phillips said she still doesn’t know why she was replaced by Dixon, who has never judged a dance competition before – but won the 2007 series.
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After leaving Strictly, Phillips appeared on a number of other programmes, including So you think you can dance, I’m a celebrity…Get me out of here! and Dancing on ice.
Speaking about her time on Strictly at the Pride of Britain Awards in October, Philips said: “I’ve grown up so when life starts and it doesn’t go your way, you just get on with it.”
However, Dama was clear that she would never rejoin the show, saying: “I would never have been asked if I would have never thought about it. That’s not even an option.”
Strictly Come Dancing: 20 fantastic years will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm on 21 December