Equality Minister, Harriet Harman has blasted the BBC for sacking 66 year old Arlene Phillips from Strictly Come Dancing and replacing her with 30 year old Alesha Dixon.

Ms Harman, 58, told the House of Commons yesterday: “I think it’s absolutely shocking that Arlene Phillips is not going to be a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

“And as Equality Minister, I am suspicious that there is age discrimination there.

“So I’d like to take the opportunity of telling the BBC – it is not too late, we want Arlene Phillips in the next edition of Strictly.”

I do wonder if people are getting a little too upset by this whole saga. Last year whilst watching Strictly Arlene irritated me no end with her obviously pre-written yet still badly delivered critiques. She was wooden and clichéd and I am so glad she has been replaced. Maybe she isn’t being sacked because she is old, maybe she was sacked because she was crap. Has anyone thought of that?