Arlene was past it and rather too old. Alesha on the other hand s the type of young fresh face younger viewers would identify with. She would bring in all the X factor fans.

I dont want to spell the cold truth to women but there is an age cap to whatever they do. I guess we men are lucky. How old is Bruce again?

Alesha is also annoying and overrated.

Yep. Her dancing wasn't great at all IMO.

Bruce and Len look their age, while Arlene doesn't. None of it makes sense to me. Maybe there's more to this than they're telling us, but the whole situation has been handled abysmally.

I don't think people should be attacking Alesha because Arlene got fired, it's hardly her fault. Personallly as an older woman, I don' think age had anything to do with it. Arlene was becoming to b*tchy and the bottox was a worry too. She definitely wasn't growing old gracefully.

Meow! Someone's jealous All of the judges could be bitchy - that wasn't a valid reason not to renew her contract.

Len is old too, but they aren't getting rid of him. I think it is unfair Arlene is getting axed because of her age, it is called ageism.

As for Alesha, she may be "Young and sexy" now, but she will be old one day. Would she like it if she was sacked because of her age? I doubt it.

I think Alesha, or anyone should not have taken a job from someone who was sacked because of their age. It just shows how desperate Alesha must be for a job

The BBC controller said the average viewer is aged 52, so why do they feel they have to grab a younger audience? They all go out Saturday night! Or they're on playstation or the web. It's crap. Arlene is the only woman expert and they get rid of her for a very nice looking young woman who knows nothing about dancing. Nothing against Alesha bu it's an insult to the professional dancers.

And how does that give her any authority to pass judgement on the dance routines?

Arlene has dance experience in abundance, Alesha's could fit on a five pence coin.

Could this have something to do with a situation around John Sergeant last year? As for Dixon, it's a joke, she has no proper experience.

I would have thought not, still there will always be conspracy therories.


Absolutely. Being young, sexy and vibrant does not equate to being able to judge dance routines.

I love Alesha but I think the decision to replace Arlene is awful.

Typical media getting shot of the older woman. Arlene has experience and knowledge, if they wanted to change the line up they should have changed one of the male judges, preferably Bruno.

Arlene actually knows about dance, technique, the different styles, the characterisation and is far more informed thn Alesha could ever be. This is a DANCE show and should have judges who know what they are talking about!

nice to see ageism no longer exists ah OP.

No she won't. SCD is a ballroom dancing competition, and if someone doesn't like ballroom dancing they are not going to watch it, whoever the judges are.

Exactly. Like it or not, anybody under 35 on here (as I am....just!) is a minority of the general audience of SCD. I'm sure the average viewing age would be over 40. Teens and 20s by and large are not interested.

I am somewhat surprised at their choice of replacement/replacee/guest. Darcey Bussell at least knows something about dancing and is a professsional dancer even if not ballroom - would have made more sense to have had Alesha as guest judge.

However picking off Arlene is so blatently anti the older woman it shocks me the Beeb are this obvious. If they had replaced Craig or Bruno there wouldn't have been half the fuss and they would still have got the sex factor. Silly them. I might have to boycott the series. Its been losing it anyway since last year.

Older women may have a age cap - as states the start of this thread but there is no reason why they have to. Its just indicative of the male managemnt at the top of the beeb. Older women still exisit even though tv tries to airbrush them out. They should vote with their feet. And even younger women too - we will all be old one day and it will be us who have become invisible.

And no I don't think men have it better - we hate looking at old wrinkly men too even though we are stuck with them - I vote replace Len with Ben Sheppard

Even though the Controller of BBC1 is a certain Jay Hunt?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007...rss&feed=media



And BBC Vision is headed up by Jana Bennett?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bio...abennett.shtml


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...rdian-100-2009

I think it's absurd that Aleesha is lined up as the new judge, fair enough if for whatever reason Arlene needed to go, but to be replaced by Aleesha who in a lot of peoples opinion is not qualified is ridic!

She was a good dancer when she was on it but shes nowhere near a professional and how will the professional dancers feel who are made up of champions etc when they are being judged by her?!

Also does anyone know how much she will be getting paid?

[quote=Annanyla;33733196]I am somewhat surprised at their choice of replacement/replacee/guest. Darcey Bussell at least knows something about dancing and is a professsional dancer even if not ballroom - would have made more sense to have had Alesha as guest judge.

However picking off Arlene is so blatently anti the older woman it shocks me the Beeb are this obvious. If they had replaced Craig or Bruno there wouldn't have been half the fuss and they would still have got the sex factor. Silly them. I might have to boycott the series. Its been losing it anyway since last year.

your last sentence there says it all " it's been losing it anyway since last year " exactly why changes are needed doh !!!

Surely if Arlene's too old then all four judges are they're all 50+ and unlike Arlene they look it. And they can get rid of Brucie too.

I hope I don't sound patronising but one needs a few years in order to gain experience.

Can't have one without the other!

Yelsel

your last sentence there says it all " it's been losing it anyway since last year " exactly why changes are needed doh !!!
And you think that Alesha, like the little Dutch boy, will plug that hole all on her own! doh indeed!!!

Alesha is ignorant. Arlene was helpful, knowledgable and the fairest judge in terms of her marking.

Look at the poll!