Alesha Dixon yesterday insisted she will bring more to Strictly Come Dancing than Arlene Phillips ever did because of her time as a contestant, The Mirror reports.
Alesha who found herself blasted by fans for her panel debut said, “Obviously Arlene was a big part of the show for a long time. But my job is not to replace Arlene. My job is to provide a perspective that was maybe missing before and that is the understanding of the performance aspects and of just how tough it is to perform to the standards the viewers expect.
“Having been through the Strictly experience I can relate to what they are going through,” Alesha told the newspaper. The singer laughed off reports that her fellow judges blanked her because they disagreed with the way Arlene was booted from the show, amid claims of ageism.
“My relationship with all the judges is great. They have all been very supportive,” she said. Fans of the show were angry that Alesha replace Arlene, claiming it was because she was younger and more glamorous, and they are reported to have taken angrily to internet forums after Alesha’s debut, urging her to resign.
“I am not a quitter,” Alesha said, “It’s not in my nature to consider quitting. We are just starting on a long road and I know I can help make the path smoother for some of the other celebs.”
More Alesha Dixon gossip on handbag.com
More celebrity gossip on handbag.com
Take a look at the Strictly Come Dancing line-up
