Dame Arlene Phillips has claimed that the BBC neither apologised nor provided a reason for her dismissal from the judging panel of "Strictly Come Dancing." Phillips, 80, was part of the original judging lineup when the show debuted in 2004, alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman.
In 2009, it was announced that Phillips would be replaced by Alesha Dixon, which led to allegations of age discrimination against the BBC—a charge the broadcaster denied. Speaking on the "How To Fail" podcast with Elizabeth Day, Phillips stated that she was not given any reason for her departure and was never formally apologised to. She described her role on the show as being the "harsh judge" and noted this persona was assigned to her by the show's format.
Phillips also mentioned that she was approached for meetings shortly after her departure, but discussions focused on potential new opportunities rather than explanations for her dismissal. She speculated that the decision to remove her was part of an effort to "refresh the brand."
Phillips was known for her stringent judging style, allegedly orchestrated by the production team, as she was advised to mostly wear black jackets to fit her role. She revealed she first learned about her exit not from the BBC, but when a journalist contacted her for comment.
Recently, Phillips paid tribute to her late friend and fellow "Strictly" judge Len Goodman, reflecting on their time together and the impact of his passing during an appearance on "Loose Women." The BBC has not commented on Phillips' latest claims.