Advertisement

Alesha to be ‘Stricty Come Dancing’ judge

Alesha Dixon is set to replace Arlene Phillips as a judge on the show.

London, June 19: Former ‘Stricty Come Dancing’ winner Alesha Dixon is reportedly all set to replace Arlene Phillips as a judge on the show to lure young audience. Apparently, the show’s bosses are squeezing out Philips from the show, but the BBC has refused to confirm reports that it has ended its contract with the 66-year-old choreographer.
However, insiders have said that the bosses feel that 30-year-old Dixon is the right person to boost the show’s appeal to younger viewers. Alesha, the pop star and former model, was dubbed the “British Beyonce" by 81-year-old host Bruce Forsyth And sources are hoping that she can help the BBC win ratings from rival ITV show ‘The X Factor’, where Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole is a judge. “There is always speculation. Two months ago they were reporting that I was going to take over from Brucie. But once you are part of Strictly Come Dancing you are part of the family and I do feel that about the show,” the Daily Express quoted Alesha as saying. While a BBC spokeswoman said that reports about the singer taking over from Phillips were “purely speculation”, she did not deny the claims outright. She said, “We can’t confirm anything about the new series of Strictly yet, but we are always looking at ways to maximise viewers’ enjoyment of our shows.” Phillips, on the other hand, declined to comment on her future with the show. Meanwhile, fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, 44, Bruno Tonioli, 53, and Len Goodman, 65, might stick with the show’s next series launches in September. ANI