X Factor host Dermot O’Leary has admitted that he was shocked by the BBC’s sacking of Arlene Phillips. Arlene was replaced on Strictly Come Dancing by former winner, Alesha Dixon.

Dermot says that he found Arlene the heart of the show and compared her to Simon Cowell.

“I think Arlene was the heartbeat of the show. She was their Simon,” he told Heat. “I’m really surprised because she was the person they hinged their credibility on.”

I don’t get the whole furore surrounding this issue personally. Arlene was to Strictly what Paula Abul was to American Idol. She was the person with pre-written but often nonsensical critiques of a performance. I think the show will actually be better off without her.