The Sun newspaper has revealed today that Strictly Come Dancing host, Bruce Forsyth, has agreed to take a 25% cut in his pay for presenting this year’s show, which means in monetary terms that instead of last year’s pay of around £600,000, he’ll receive around £500,000.

The cut is in line with many cost cutting measures that have been introduced by BBC director-general Mark Thompson, who is cutting the salaries of some BBC stars by as much as 40%.

A representative of Forsyth’s told the paper, “Bruce loves Strictly. We haven’t signed a contract yet, but we hope to have things sorted within the next two weeks.

“In times like these people are taking cuts. Gone are the days when you’d get a Brucie bonus for being loyal… Read more & comment »

Len Goodman has revealed that the judges on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing will more than likely take a hefty pay cut.

Len assured viewers that he doesn’t mind working for less money but I bet Arlene Phillips is glad that she got out when she did.

“I think we’ll probably be asked to take a pay cut which I understand, we are in the middle of a recession,” Goodman told the BBC.

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The recently sacked Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has revealed in an interview on Radio 4 that she “can’t imagine” seeing someone taking her place on the Strictly judging panel.

She was ditched by the popular BBC show because bosses wanted to add “glamour” and bring in someone younger to attract more viewers, and it seems that Alesha Dixon – who won the show in 2007 – is set to take Arlene’s place.

66 year old Arlene said in the interview, “I’ve got so many other things. Life will go on.” Read more & comment »

Len Goodman – star judge on Strictly Come Dancing – has revealed to the Daily Mail that he’s recently undergone surgery after a malignant tumour was found in his prostate gland. His cancer was first diagnosed in March this year but Len told the paper that he wanted to go ahead with filming ‘Dancing With The Stars’ in the US before he underwent treatment.

65 year old Len also chose not to tell any of his colleagues or friends about the op, which he had three weeks ago, but he told the paper that he now feels, “right as rain.”

Brave Len said, “I’ve had the surgery now. Everything’s gorgeously good. I’ll be back in September for sure.” Read more & comment »

Hot on the heels of the terrifying incident in which she was mugged and her engagement ring stolen, Strictly Come Dancing star Rachel Stevens has had another frightening brush with crime.

Last night, Rachel and her family were enjoying a meal at the Harry Morgan restaurant in St John’s Wood, London, when a masked gunman apparently burst in and “fired a volley of shots” according to today’s Sun.

The paper says that Rachel’s party and other diners – including the BBC’s chief economic correspondent Hugh Pym and his family – threw themselves to the floor as the gunman fired at a man he’d chased into the restaurant. Read more & comment »

Emmerdale star Amanda Donohoe has blasted the BBC’s decision to sack veteran choreographer Arlene Phillips.

News leaked this week that Arlene is being replaced on the Strictly Come Dancing panel by former winner, Alesha Dixon.

Speaking on This Morning, Amanda said: “Why not add another judge, sure.

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Big Brother has revealed this week’s shopping task, and it’s all about the Tudors…

Siavash ran to the diary room to collect the task instructions, therefore automatically putting himself in the role of Henry VIII. He must now choose six of the housemates to be his wives and two more to be courtiers.

All nine of them will live a life of luxury in King Henry’s Court and the remaining housemates will be cooks with the exception of one who must take on a ‘special role’. However, none of the housemates yet know that this ’special role’ is the role of Village Idiot! Read more & comment »

The Sun has reported that Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has been sacked from the show.

66 year old Arlene, who had the worst one liners in the history of television, is said to have been replaced by former winner of the show, Alesha Dixon.

A show source said: “It’s nothing personal against Arlene — she’s been brilliant.

“But the bosses want to bring in younger viewers — the 16 to 34-year-olds that X Factor mops up.”

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Craig Revel Horwood has turned his caustic tongue on Britain’s Got Talent finalist Susan Boyle.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge said that the singer ’sucks’ at the opening night of Latin Fever in London, according to the Evening Standard.

Horwood said: “I think Susan Boyle sucks and I’ll tell you why – she can’t sing and that really bugs me. [She] sings as bad as she looks.

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Glamour model Katie Price said that her split from husband Peter Andre was “not what I want.”

The reality TV star said she was “devastated” by her husband’s decision to begin divorce proceedings.

Price said in a statement: “Pete is the love of my life and my life.”

She continued: “We have children together and I am devastated and disappointed by his decision to separate and divorce me, as I married him for life.

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Alice Beer has revealed that she is in talks to appear on this years Strictly Come Dancing series.

“My agent is in talks with the BBC at the moment – it would be a hoot,” she told the Daily Express.

Alice added that she thinks she is quite a good dancer, particularly after a few drinks.

“I was always big and slightly ungainly as a teenager. Now I like to think I can dance, but my ability is somewhat enhanced by wine. Who knows how it will go when I’m teetotal in the studio?” she said.

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What a surprise, the Big Brother press juggernaut is rolling and already they are promising the sexiest housemates ever.

Stories like that make me not want to watch the upcoming series. Some of the dullest and least engaging housemates in previous series have been the babes with no personality or the hunks with no brains. Think Ziggy, Imogen, Dale. Would you really want to watch them again for three months?

Personally I’d like to see more quirky housemates. Bring back some geeks like Derek Laud, some quirky girls like Kate Lawler, or some tough guys with a heart like Darnell Swallow. Please oh please don’t inflict on us a summer of braindead ‘hotties’ or wine bottle shagging tarts. I just don’t think I could cope.

Former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne has tried to hit Simon Cowell where it hurts and signed up for his rival UK show, Strictly Come Dancing.

A friend of Sharon’s told the Daily Mirror that she had definitely signed for the BBC show which airs on the same night as Cowell’s X Factor and she is rumoured to have commanded £100,000 for her appearance.

A BBC source told the newspaper: “Sharon is already a huge name in TV and music, so she is perfect for the show.

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Newsreader Kay Burley has admitted that she would love to appear on this years series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Kay also appeared on ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2007.

“I would love to do Strictly but they won’t let me,” Burley told Metro. “One of my dreams would be to do an American Smooth with Anton Du Beke and float around with a beautiful sequinned gown.”

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Pregnant TV presenter Tess Daly has insisted that she will be back to present this years Strictly extravaganza, despite rumours that the role was going to Alesha Dixon.

Tess’s baby is due in June which leaves her 12 weeks to prepare for the show. A pal told The Sun: “The baby’s well-timed for the show.”