Arlene: 'Strictly scores are ridiculous'

Axed Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips has criticised the show's panel for scoring contestants too generously.

The choreographer admitted that she was surprised to see Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle and Footballers' Wives stars Laila Rouass and Zoe Lucker achieving scores of 30 and above on Friday night.

Speaking to The Sun, she commented: "The marks are too high - ridiculously high. I've done an overall mark for everybody and theirs are nowhere near where mine are.

"I think Craig [Revel Horwood] is the only one marking what he sees - and he gets booed."

Phillips added that some celebrity dancers have managed to win over the judges by using their acting skills to cover up technical mistakes.

"Natalie Cassidy, Zoe Lucker and Craig Kelly are all actors and they know how to perform," she explained. "With Natalie she was telling the story so much with her face, I kept missing her feet. It's a bit like Derren Brown pulling the wool over your eyes.

"If you believe you can dance, you can act it and maybe that's why they're getting such high scores. If they carry on like this they'll have to start marking them out of 20."

Phillips was dropped from Strictly earlier this year. Popstar and former show champion Alesha Dixon replaced her on the panel.