Jay Hunt has a lot to answer for

She is gone because she wasn't offered a new contract. And why? Well, at the end of the day, I think it gets down to ageism! (You've only got to look at the really great newsreaders they've sacked because of AGE). And X-Factor replaced their older judge with a young one, so HEY, SCD has to do the same!!! Heaven forbid the beeb should have a mind of its own!

Yeah trouble is that if that happened in the workplace- I mean normal work any employer would leave themselvesd open to legal action- be it discrimination on sex, age grounds

Am I the only one that thinks Arlene's behaviour on and off the show last year will have had some bearing on her contract not being removed?

Don't misunderstand me - I am not doubting her professional qualifications and experience to be suitable as a judge or saying that Alesha is a sensible replacement. Nor am I saying that Arlene is the only judge who should have been replaced, but last year there was uproar on here about Arlene's conduct as a judge on the show and her behaviour in the media off stage too.

Tell me I'm not the only one?

Thank goodness - I can go to bed now!

Just popping on for a second to say that you're not the only one! I was losing my mind thinking I was the only one!

I agree with you 100%

What was the "uproar" about?

Novice dancers do not make good judges.

What rubbish. She might have been the best dancer the year she won but she hasn't come anywhere in SCD comps since with former champs. In fact she has been crap in these comps.

Alesha Dixon was a failed solo singer. She played on her her personal heartbreak, was good on SCD the year she won and hasn't been able to let go since.

Did she think that Arlene was happy to be sacked? Unlikely. But she still took her job away from her. Arlene and all the other judges stepped out of line last year but Arlene got the boot. I wonder what happened first; Arlene was sacked or Alesha was offered the job?

I agree with you.


Also, a GOOD novice dancer would learn the basics - timing, heels and toes, all that sort of thing. All Alesha learnt was "routines" - I guarantee if someone asked her to dance the sort of basic routine that a novice can dance she wouldn't have a clue.

Atleast with DOI they appointed judges in either ice skating or choreography (sp?)

Erm, no they didn't.

Ruthie Henshall doesn't skate and has no background in choreography. She was also hideously biased. So chances are Alesha will never be as bad as her.

Even thought I think it's wrong and a dumb decision to replace Arlene with Alesha, I still find it difficult to defend Arlene. I didn't like her and her comments were rude and just plain stupid at times.
What bothered me is that she obviously had a lot of dance knowledge and was passionate about dance but wasted too much time trying (and failing) to be witty.

Basically her outspokenness about JS and her blatant favouritism towards L&B.


I would say 'what rubbish' back to you, because I'd say that's what your post is imho.

"But she still took her job away from her" - How ridiculous - this isn't a school playground!

Nice to see you can argue your case. NOT. What a rubbish reply.

I am genuinely outraged at the treatment of Arlene

for them to say 'the show needs to be refreshed' and then jump on the only female judge who has 45 years of dance and choreography experience

what about Len, who was clearly doing too much last year and became grumpy, making increasingly bizarre decisions?

what about the lumpen Tess, who hasn't improved in five years?

what about Brucie, who can barely read his autocue and is old enough to be Tess's grandfather?

I loved Alesha on the show but what's her role on the judging panel going to be? the one blowing the smoke up the celebs a*ses, that's what

I've only just heard this news and I'm gutted.

I loved Arlene! It's totally outrageous! WHY have they done it?

They were ALL outspoken about JS. The fuss he kicked up last year was bad enough, but to ruin future series because of that self-serving old man is disgusting if that is what they are doing. To pick on the only female judge is also disgusting - but doesn't it just show that women over a certain age are treated like absolute rubbish.

Shame on you for sticking up for that position

I think there are two separate issues here.

The first is the removal of Arlene under the guise of 'refreshing' the show. Jay Hunt's chronic lack of imagination, slavish following of trends and the BBC's entrenched attitudes to older women suggest that she's been sacked for all the wrong reasons. We can agree or disagree with that regardless of who is chosen as a replacement.

The second issue is that, given that they've decided to replace a judge, who should they choose? It seems to me that picking someone with no technical knowledge and no long-term background in dance undermines the basic tenet of the show.

For my money the producers have made two decisions here, and they're both wrong.

BuddyBontheNet is way out and Miah absolutely spot on. In her marking of contestants Arlene was THE fairest judge.

Len and Bruno had far more serious flaws but, as men, are still in situ. Len often shouted over Arlene when she was evaluating performances. And what happened? Bruce moved on to Len without allowing Arlene to finish! I don't know how she managed to put up with this unfair treatment.

I would have been sorry to see Arlene leave whoever took her place but when I heard that ALESHA was to be a 'judge' that was adding insult to injury.

This is very true and it used to make me really quite cross. I'm amazed at how well Arlene took it. Occasionally when she tried to stand her ground, she was humiliated by the others, Len in particular, but she was always professional - far more so than Len.

imo, Len should have gone if they wanted to "refresh" the show.

I think if you look back at the threads for the last series you will see that the majority of posters agreed Arlene was not marking fairly and it was mainly L&B fans who disagreed - maybe you are one?

We will have to disagree on this, as after the last series I will never agree that Arlene was the fairest judge in a million years. It is a shame because before then Arlene made a great contribution to the show - even with all her daft alliteration and swooning over the fabulous male celebs.


I have not "stuck up for that position".

Yes, they were all outspoken about JS (and they all behaved badly on the show), but is is widely agreed that Arlene was THE most out spoken (e.g. this article), and as I said I'd say it was on the cards at the end of the last series that Arlene would be replaced as she ruffled the feathers of far too many people that matter on SCD & in the BBC.

As for the rest of your accusations, if you read the many posts I have already made about this subject, you will see I have made it quite clear I would not have chosen Alesha or anyone else who doesn't have professional ballroom/Latin dancing experience. Also I would have replaced Bruno too and kept Len and Craig.

I have never been told on here I should be ashamed of myself, but even so I am entitled to my opinion and I am glad Arlene has been replaced.

Buddy has as much right as anyone else on here to express an opinion - and at least she does so without resorting to personal insult.

On this occasion I disagree with her, (I also disagreed over L&B) but she is entitled to her views and at least backs it up with cogent reasoning - why should she be ashamed of this?

I'm with JohnfromWales on this...Two seperate issues and two mistakes, both compounded by the appallingly crass handling of the situation by Jay Hunt.

Tbh I thought the worst displays of over-marking and over-excitable comments about L+B came from Bruno and Len, but they ALL gave 10's to a couple of their routines that had me throwing things at the telly in disgust. That particular fault I can't attribute to Arlene any more than the others