It looks like this could get interesting

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-campaign.html


http://celebrity.aol.co.uk/2009/07/2...rlene-sacking/

Very random quote there from Tom Baker at the end of the Sun article.

Well, they've 1370 complaints now. Replace Arlene if they have to but replace her with someone who has dance expertise.

Can't see how any of it will make a difference now that Alesha has a contract.

Well I have no sympathy for the PTB- they got themselves into this mess- they'll have to get themselves out of it- and if that means paying Alesha off or changing her role within the show then so be it

I can't see it making much difference at the beeb either tbh...except to the few stooges who will be on the dole if the 'refreshing' bombs and the show loses viewers.

I suspect the beeb are praying Joanna Lumley doesn't get involved as well

The BBC have made an horrendous mistake with this decision but I doubt very much they will remove the person who made the stupid decision nor retract it.

Alesha Dixon may be a nice person but has no proper talent or personality - and a horrible laugh that sounds like a braying donkey. I'd much prefer to see Arlene restored and Angela Rippon on the panel instead of Craig. She can dance and has more personality and talent. Move Alesha to It Takes Two where she is more suited.

That wouldn't take much doing to move Alesha sideways to ITT- and if she is as upset with the backlash as has been said in the press I doubt she'd be too unhappy

I hardly think they will move Alesha anywhere, but they might just decide to bring back Arlene next series. I doubt it, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Mind you the number of complaints is still small and not likely to produce any results. You'd need a much higher number of complaints imho before anything would be changed. Think about the Ross/Brand issue were tens of thousands of complaints were involved then and Ross is still working for the BBC - Brand probably would be too if he hadn't left of his own accord.

yet another piece of sensationalism byThe Sun, of course we all realise that you must believe everything you read in the sun, there is not a chance in hell of Arlene being brought back , and there is no chance of them dropping Alesha as she has a contract.

with regard to the accusations of ageism, what are tv companies supposed to do with female presenters, should they keep them on screen till the pop their clogs, or let them retire like most 65 year olds. Personally i'd rather not have to suffer another season of Arlenes bad alliterations, perving over the men and silly hand expressions, i for one am glad she has gone as i think, despite her supposed experience ( not ballroom related mind you) she was a complete pain in the ass, put her out to grass i say..... and make way for the younger generation

It's true she can dance - she has the most fabulous pair of legs!! But regrettably Angela was another of the 'old' Come Dancing presenters who helped give ballroom dancing the image of belonging only to the elderly "twin-set & pearls/slippers & pipe" brigade, and ruined any chance of it being viewed seriously as the SPORT that it is.

Did celebrity.aol copy The Sun's article, or the other way round, I wonder?

Can't see the beeb backing down now, at least not for this years' series, but if enough people complain, they may do something different for next year.

I would like to add my voice to the their number of complaints - Anyone got address, or email address for the beeb?

Go to bbc.co.uk - scroll right to the bottom of the page and click on Complaints. It's easy from there. If you ask for a reply you'll get the standard press release pap but at least your complaint will be registered.

so where does that leave the old age male presenters then who are legion?
Len is only a year younger than Arlene, Bruce is way off the planet in terms of age.
The tv screens are full of over the hill men, some of them really dreadful. Some of the older ladies are better presenters than their male counterparts.
If anyone is to be put out to grass then be fair about it and get rid of the male pains in the ass as well.

I am not a fan of Arlene but then I am not a fan of Alesha either. The BBC has handled the whole thing badly. One report says 5 judges would mean changing the whole show, which seems like a fabrication. One extra set of paddles, a bigger table and an extra chair and no chance of having to have a casting vote from Len.

If Arlene had not been so agist over John Sargent then she might just have a leg to stand on. You cannot claim agism after what she said last series. I am gald she has gone, would also like Bruno and Bruse to go as well.

Am actually looking forward to the new series and will hold fire on Alesha untill I see her. I actually think that Darcy if it works out well would get the nod in the future.

I agree. They might even get by without a full extra set, since Bruno and Len only need the 8 to 10 paddles . Dancing on Ice has 5 judges with 3 ice skating techies and 2 performance/dance judges. It is a much better format, irrespective of how people feel about the individuals that make up the panel.

I can only assume that the BBC budget does not run to 5 judges.

Perhaps they could find enough for a 5th judge out of Brucie's pay cut?! I would love the BBC to reconsider and make it a panel of 5 for the whole season. I think the BBC would possibly gain good will all the way round doing this, give the show some positive publicity and everyone involved a boost. Surely having Alesha & Arlene would be the best of both worlds? I'd be very happy with that anyway!

You can email to the following and put it for the attention of Sir Michael Lyons - 'trust.secretariat@bbc.co.uk'.

Me and my friends have all emailed and we have all had replies. We are all of the opinion that the wrong decision has been made. I like Alesha and Arlene but think the BBC are being ageist and hypocritical - why not get rid of some of the older men?

What are the rest of the judges doing about this appalling decision? Why don't they protest? I suppose they are thinking of their nest eggs but they should watch it, they could be next.

I am sure Alesha is upset by the backlash but she can bounce back - especially if she decides not to go ahead and be a judge after all. Go on Alesha, do the decent thing!

i just think this is a massive mess up from start to finish. Why mess with a format that works? The BBC has got this really wrong i understand where they are coming from trying to appeal to a younger audience but they've gone about it all wrong.

They had a fairly strong younger following anyway and shoud just accept that the majority of young people will rather watch the x-factor so simple solution dont clash the times!

Plus alesha should have had someone advisor this was a bad move. SHe has gained so much good press and relaunched her career with SCD anyone could have forseen the bad press that comes with replacing someone loved, its almost like Jade re-entering BB when your at the top dont go over old ground!

Such a shame as alesha is a great fan of the show but i dont think she will be taken seriously by the fellow judges, contestants or viewers!

BBC should just admit there wrong and bring arlene back (Simon Cowell had the balls to do that with the whole Kelly thing)

Even if Alesha did step down (and I don't think she should), the BBC are not just going to ask Arlene back!

There are plenty of posts on here about it so it is well known what Len said given that he was the first to be asked about the announcement. Radio 5 phoned him to ask for his opinion very soon after the news came out, but that was the first time he'd even heard about it.

Bruno has publicly said he is sad Arlene won't be on the show as she is a friend, but that he can't comment further.

I don't know if Craig has said anything.

The BBC seem to be good at changing a winning format. Killing off Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne, Ianto Jones () and now sacking Arlene (or not renewing her contract).

If you wish to make a complaint regarding the sacking of Arlene Phillips from strictly come dancing, go here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/

I agree killing off Robin Hood in a show call 'Robin Hood beggars belief and his nemesis Guy Gisborne, but the rest is fine if something better can come from it. I'm still going to watch SCD and Torchwood when it is on again as who knows what will happen next?.

PS I didn't know Ianto was going so it was a shock, but I notice you didn't mention Tosh or Owen so did you have a pash on one Ianto?

Thank you for that.

The actors chose to leave.


That was the creative decision of the writers, not the BBC. And there has been no word that Torchwood has been killed off.