Arlene Phillips slams the BBC for how they handled her Strictly exit and says she found out she had been axed from a journalist: ‘I was a grownup. They should have come to me’

Arlene Phillips has revealed she found out she had been dropped from her role as judge on Strictly Come Dancing when a journalist called her.

The dancer and choreographer was axed from Striclty in 2008 after four years as a judge. 

She was the only judge on the panel, which also included Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood not have her contract renewed, with girl band star Alesha Dixon, 44, drafted in as a replacement.

The axing caused uproar among fans and calls of sexism while Harriet Harman, the minister for women and equality, blamed ageism when the debate reached the House of Commons. 

In a new interview with the Guardian, Arlene explained she was most angry at the way the BBC handled the axing, explaining how the first she heard about it was when a radio show called her for a comment. 

‘I was a grownup when I did that show, so I resent that the BBC didn’t come to me as soon as they had the thought,’ she said.  ‘More than knocking my confidence, I think it swirled around me, and I thought: “I need to find myself.”

‘I needed all the mental preparation that I could muster to go: “Hang on a minute – you had a big career before this and you’ve got work lined up.” 

‘I think I stepped up and out of it as fast as I could. When the rollercoaster goes down, find the up.’ 

Last year Arlene paid tribute to her former Strictly colleague Len who passed away aged 78 after being diagnosed with bone cancer. 

‘It was such a loss, and it was so sudden for many of us because only a few people knew, Bruno knew, but few people actually knew. It was a real shock, particularly as Len and I, we were there at the pilot,’ she told  BBC Breakfast in September. 

‘We made the pilot and it was wonderfully, brilliantly chaotic, and Len and I spent many hours trying to form what the show would be and we were the bodies that were lucky enough to do that.’

Arlene is still throwing herself into work at the age of 80 and only last week experienced another career high when she received an Olivier Award nomination.

The star, alongside her associate James Cousins, has been nominated for the Gillian Lynne award for best theatre choreographer for their work on Guys and Dolls. 

Arlene is already a two-time Olivier Award nominee for Best Theatre Choreographer in 1994 and 1999, as well as winner for the 2023 Special Recognition award alongside Derek Jacobi. 

The dancer and choreographer was axed from Striclty in 2008 after four years as a judge alongside Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood (pictured in 2004)

In a new interview with the Guardian, Arlene explained she was most angry at the way the BBC handled the axing (pictured in 2008)