A Strictly Come Dancing legend has reflected on the moment she was told her time was up on the beloved BBC dancing competition.
After a tumultuous year, the series celebrates its 20th anniversary on Saturday, 21 December, with a special episode featuring past contestants including Joe Sugg, Stacey Dooley and Bill Bailey.
Arlene Philips, 81, who was part of Strictly’s inaugural judging panel alongside Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli when the show launched in 2004, has reflected on her unexpected exit.
When the show wrapped in 2008, the decorated dancer and choreographer was told she was being replaced by Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon, now 46.
Speaking to The Mirror, Dame Philips said of the axeing: “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.”
The former dancer explained she now feels she should have asked BBC producers more questions upon being given the news.
“I was very fragile because I had a bereavement the day before,” Philips, whose manager had died just before the shock news was delivered, explained.
“I wanted to know in detail and I wanted to know the real reason at the point when they decided for me to go,” she added.
“Yet, they kept me hanging on for so long with the possibility that there would be five judges.”
Phillips said she still doesn’t know why she was replaced by Dixon, who had never judged a dance competition before – but had won the series in 2007.
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After leaving Strictly, Phillips appeared on numerous other programmes, including So You Think You Can Dance, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing on Ice.
Speaking about her time on Strictly at the Pride of Britain Awards in October, Philips said: “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.”
However, the Dame was clear she would never rejoin the show, saying: “They would never ask me so I would never think about it. It’s not even an option.”
Strictly Come Dancing: 20 Fabulous Years will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm 21 December