Harriet Harman Blasts BBC Decision To Sack Arlene Phillips
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?
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I can only say that I am amazed that the BBC have actually done this. A very successful programme which did not need any tweaking. I really enjoyed Arlene on the panel, and a lot of the fun will now have gone. I really don’t think I will be so interested in watching anymore. Bit of a shame really – I feel my fun has been diminished. How are professional dancers going to feel, being criticised by Alesha? I think the BBC have succeeded in making the programme into just another load of silly old ‘throw away’ tosh, whereas I think viewers thought it was actually a little more than that. I can only imagine that viewing figures will fall dramatically. A silly, silly decision.
I always find that change is one of the most difficult word to deal with. Arlene is a lovely lady and she knows her stuff cliche or not but I believe that when is time to move on is time to move. Lets embrace change, is always good and always refreshing.