It will be interesting to see how long he keeps her for. Also Alesha Dixon must be the most in demand celeb for Cowell and Strictly to have fought over her.

But I think the BBC and Cowell wanted her for very different reasons.

The BBC wanted her as a non-white face in primetime entertainment they could use as a figurehead for their diversity policy. There will almost certainly be crisis meetings about how on earth they can replace her.

For Cowell, she's vaguely useful for the same reason but, much more than that, 'poaching' her from SCD and the BBC makes him look more powerful and, in his mind (and those of his ITV masters/servants - delete as applicable), he can get one over on a show he publicly resents, and hit the BBC where it hurts. He will still be bitter about the bad publicity that has surrounded TXF in 2011, especially as it was repeatedly contrasted with Strictly's success.

And yes, the entertainment business really can be that petty ...

TBH most singers who judge on those 'reality' competitions are really not in demand. If they were, they would never have the time to fit BGT, XFACTOR to their schedule's.

Can you imagine Adele, Rhianna etc.. becoming judges?

Nail on head. They are people who had careers.

You should really mention her being Black a few more times in your posts.

Why?

What a yawn when this card is played.

Yes that's why they sacked or let go of all their Black newsreaders [Moira Stuart, Darren Jordan,Gillian Joseph] and replaced with white Females. Very strict diversity policy there...



Jonathan Ross was out of contact at the BBC and a free agent. He only ended up at ITV because Channel 4 pulled out of deal at the last minute. As their new Chief exec didn't want him there.

Because she has bought up her race in practically every post on this forum since monday.
Apparently Alesha only got the job because she was black, so Heather Small, Chelsee or Michelle Williams will be replacing her.

And I only yawn when reading your badly informed posts like the one that started this thread:sleep:

'She' () brought up the BBC's Diversity policy. It's relevant, and if you don't think so, fine. But I have worked at the BBC and, believe me, it is rigorously enforced. Programme-makers are regularly contacted by Diversity executives urging them to guarantee representation of non-white, non-able-bodied people and taking them to task if they fail to do so. Strictly won't have been exempt from this.

If you want to twist my comments with sarcy remarks, feel free. I'm not commenting on race or skin colour - but on BBC policy.

I agree with that. The BBC like to have all different backgrounds working for them, which is why i don't think they would have gotten rid of Alesha that easily, and even if they did, they would have given her another job somewhere.

Oh dear. I know the weather is awful and I'm a bit blue,too, but do cheer up. I'm sorry you don't like my post.

As for the race stuff, I think it is absolutely great that we've been able to discuss what used to be a very sensitive issue so directly and intelligently. Nobody has disagreed with the diversity policy or even hinted that it might not be wrong which again is great because it shows how much everybody has moved along. I don't think of Alesha as black - she is just an incredible looking woman - but I understand she is mixed race. I also understand as one of the posters on here has said that the BBC, as our national broadcaster, has to meet very strict diversity guidelines as they are publicly funded. And quite right too.

But it can be a problem when the pool of talent is simply not as big as it might be if they were looking for white Caucasian. We have a similar problem in the county I live in re our police force. They have ethnic minority quotas to fill but we are a tiny county with no big towns and we simply haven't got the cultural mix to allow the police to fulfil their targets.

So, PLEASE lets all go on discussing this issue when we feel like it in the good humoured and inteliigent manner that have been the hallmark of this debate.

For what its worth, I think she was pushed. Alisha is a sharp cookie and she must have realised that SCD gave her a credibility that she didn't otherwise have. Afterall what had she achieved in life? Nada... except winning SCD. She's not going to get that kind of credibility anywhere else. Also I noticed a slightly vindictive element to the "SCD revelations" that went on around Christmas about the physical attractions that take place etc.... I don't think she'd feel vindictive in any way at all if she really went of her own free will.....No, in my humble opinion she was pushed.
Also, the BBC have said that there were giong to be big changes in personnel next year, again, which makes me think that she was pushed.

I thought I read the BBC asked her to reconsider. Possibly not. But doesn't she also have another BBC show?

Disagree completely. She always wanted to work with Cowell. SCD has had its strongest series in a long time, and she improved this year. I really don't think they wanted to get rid of her.

Alesha's Street Stars or something on CBBC.

I'm with you on everything but the laugh - I never minded that or her 'I is so street grammar' (it's no worse than James's whom I also don't mind). For me the only downside of her going is that we might get someone like Jennifer Grey to replace her - I hope we get Karen but I'm not holding my breath.