Vanessa Feltz blasts Dixon criticism

Vanessa Feltz has claimed that critics of Strictly Come Dancing's new recruit Alesha Dixon are hypocrites.

Fans of the BBC One ballroom show have complained that Dixon is a poor replacement for Arlene Phillips since she made her debut on the programme last week.

However, Feltz has now insisted that the same viewers objected to Phillips when she was on the panel.

Writing in her Daily Express column, she said: "The 'she's too ancient' versus 'she's too clueless' debate rages ever more ferociously. People who wouldn't know their paso doble from their merengue profess to be outraged at Alesha Dixon's lack of ballroom pedigree.

"Strictly-ites, who happily scoffed as Arlene stumbled clumsily over her painfully scripted flights of alliteration, suddenly insist they miss her more fervently than their deceased relatives."

She continued: "Strictly Come Dancing is a light entertainment show, not an in-depth induction to the arcane origins of the rumba. There isn't time for exacting analysis.

"Alesha's more than equal to the task - looking delectably pretty and spitting out the occasional empathetic platitude. Lay off Ms Dixon. It's not her fault she got the gig."

The BBC yesterday insisted that it is "really pleased" with Dixon's performance on the show.