Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has admitted the BBC is still “not forgiven” after she was axed from the show in an ageism row.
The 81-year-old starred in the show as a judge alongside Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli from its debut in 2004 until she was unceremoniously replaced after the 2008 series.
Alesha Dixon, then 30, took over from her after winning the show the previous year.
While 16 years have passed, the dancer has confessed she’s only recently accepted the broadcaster’s surprise decision.
“Accepted but not forgiven. Yes, I have moved on. I suppose it is something to rejoice, and I can always remind myself, I was there at the pilot, when nobody ever thought this show was going to be a show,” she explained.
Speaking to The Mirror, she went on: “And to be the first female judge, there’s a lot of accolades I could give myself.”
Phillips was axed from Strictly in 2008
BBC
When asked by the publication about the Giovanni Pernice controversy, she replied: “Dance is tough. Dance is very tough, and learning is tough.
“But in terms of teaching, we have progressed from the teaching that I suffered when I was young. Teachers with canes.”
She went on to say she herself had been strict during the Hot Gossip days, but reflected on how she has now taken the approach that “everybody has a way of learning”.
The decision sparked a huge ageism row within the broadcaster, and Phillips recently admitted she still resents the corporation after finding out about her exit via a radio show.
Phillips was embroiled in an ageism row after the axe
Getty
At the time of the controversy, the then-equality minister Harriet Harman called for Phillips to return to the competition show, arguing she’d been a victim of “age discrimination”.
The BBC didn’t formerly respond to Harman’s request, but at the time reiterated its former comments that the decision hadn’t been made due to Phillips’ age.
Elsewhere, Dixon didn’t remain on the judging panel for long and made an exit from the show after the ninth series in 2011.
The current judging line-up consists of Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke.
Phillip starred as a judge on the show from 2004 to 2008
Getty
Phillips isn’t the first person to have been at the centre of an ageism row with the broadcaster, with Moira Stuart embroiled in a similar controversy after being dropped from her Sunday morning slot 17 years ago at the age of 55.
The BBC was in a years-long battle with the courts after several other names also claimed they’d been dismissed due to ageism, such as Miriam O’Reilly and Anna Ford.
Phillips isn’t the first person to have been at the centre of an ageism row with the broadcaster, with Moira Stuart embroiled in a similar controversy after being dropped from her Sunday morning slot 17 years ago at the age of 55.
The BBC was in a years-long battle with the courts after several other names also claimed they’d been dismissed due to ageism, such as Miriam O’Reilly and Anna Ford.
GB News has contacted the BBC for a comment.
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