A former star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, who left the show 15 years ago, has whipped up excitement with hints of a sensational return.
Dame Arlene Phillips, ousted from the Strictly judges’ panel years back, has triggered whispers of a potential comeback to the beloved dance programme.
Following her exit from Strictly, Dame Arlene graced ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! and now seems to be teasing a glittering return to the dance contest.
The dance expert, who found fame for her 70s dance troupe Hot Gossip, was part of the original judging panel alongside Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Craig Revel-Horwood.
Arlene spoke to The Sun at the Pride of Britain Awards about her future endeavors.
She remarked: “I’ve been filming something today, which will be coming out soon and is hilarious. It’s something to do with dancing.”
When probed about the prospect of rejoining the glitz of Strictly, Arlene offered an enigmatic: “Maybe a little chat..”
Arlene was a fan-favourite on the Strictly judging team between 2004 and 2008, reports Birmingham Live.
Her controversial replacement by Alesha Dixon in 2009 sparked a heated debate on ageism directed at the BBC.
Learning of her dismissal via radio broadcast, the controversy swelled to such an extent that Harriet Harman, equality minister of the time, took it upon herself to stand before the House of Commons to discuss the matter and believed it was “age discrimination”
Alesha Dixon, who won the contest in 2007 before becoming part of the show, was later replaced by Darcey Bussell, who later left the programme.
The current panel includes Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke.
Dame Arlene also served as a judge on the Beeb’s So You Think You Can Dance, which enjoyed a brief tenure from 2010 to 2011, spanning two series, and she has established a reputation as a choreographer for various West End productions.
This year’s Strictly Come Dancing season is well underway, with four celebrities including Tom Dean, Toyah Willcox, Nick Knowles, and Paul Merson having already been voted off the dance floor.
Nonetheless, Jamie Bortwick and Montell Douglas are waltzing their way to the top, sharing the joint highest spot on the leaderboard with an impressive score just shy of perfection at 39.
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday on BBC One from 6:25pm.