Arlene Phillips shares reaction to Strictly fans who mistake her for much younger judge

Wales Online

06-06-2025

Arlene Phillips shares reaction to Strictly fans who mistake her for much younger judge
Dame Arlene Phillips says fans are always mixing her up with her friend on Strictly Come Dancing, who is 18 years her junior, years on from her controversial axe from the BBC show
Arlene Phillip said she's often having to clarify who she is to fans
(Image: undefined via Getty Images )
Dame Arlene Phillips is arguably the first choreographer to become a household name in Britain. Her dance ensemble, Hot Gossip, set the 1980s alight and sparked a lingerie-as-outerwear fashion trend, echoed by stars such as Sabrina Carpenter today.
While those days may be behind her, Dame Arlene still remains as one of the dance industry's most well-known faces. In a recent chat, the former Strictly Come Dancing judge said fans often mistake her for the programme's current head judge, Shirley Ballas, 64. She shared: "People come running up shouting, 'Shirley! Shirley!' and I have to say, 'No, I'm the other one!'".
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Despite the mix-up, at 82, Arlene may find solace in being compared to someone nearly two decades her junior.
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Fans sometimes mistake Arlien for her pal Shirley Ballas [L]
(Image: undefined via Getty Images )
Arlene endured a highly publicised departure from the Strictly Come Dancing jury in her sixties, which ignited heated debates over sexism and ageism within the media.
The contentious casting change led over 2,000 viewers to lodge complaints with the BBC, and even drew political ire as Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman lambasted the BBC's choice as "absolutely shocking."
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Throughout the uproar, Arlene chose to concentrate on her own pursuits: "I wrapped myself in my world and got on with life," she told The i newspaper.
Arlene made a name for herself with dance troupe Hot Gossip
(Image: undefined via Getty Images )
Many still approach her to opine that she shouldn't have been dismissed from the series after its 2008 season.
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Reflecting on her reaction to being replaced by Alesha Dixon, Arlene expressed initial anger but pointed out her swift rebound.
"I gave myself 48 hours to kick, scream, cry and sob, and eat scones with cream and jam, then I made myself wake up and get on with it," she added.
"I loved being on Strictly. It's very dear to my heart that I was there right from the start."
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Arlene continued, highlighting her resilience: "I'm a grown up so when life comes along and it doesn't go the way you want, you just get on with it."
Bruno Tonioli, Arlene Phillips, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood on Strictly
(Image: BBC )
Meanwhile, a previous female colleague at the BBC conveyed to The Mirror their concerns about ageism, stating: "There seems to be a system that gives women no chance on air unless they are below a certain age."
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They further lamented: "Arlene may have a job on The One Show, but she is being pushed out of Strictly even though she was an excellent judge with great knowledge on dancing. There is no really good reason for it."
At the time, the BBC denied that ageism played any role in Arlene being replaced.
In defence of the decision to bring in former Strictly champion Alesha as Arlene's replacement, BBC One controller Jay Hunt asserted: "Yes, a lot of people were upset about Arlene but the flip side is, in Alesha, we have a young, black, woman presenter, at the heart of the Saturday night BBC One schedule."