Reality TV
'Strictly' Nancy Dell'Olio: 'Alesha Dixon comments cruel, degrading'
Published Sunday, Nov 6 2011, 16:50 GMT | By Daniel Sperling | 10 comments
Ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant Nancy Dell'Olio has reportedly accused judge Alesha Dixon of "degrading" and "humiliating" her in an email to the BBC.
Dell'Olio stated in the message sent to Strictly Come Dancing executive Moira Ross - and obtained by The Mail On Sunday - that she is prepared to take legal action against Dixon unless the panellist issues an apology for her comments on last week's live show (October 29).
The Italian entrepreneur said that Dixon "meant to embarrass" her by describing her as "a walking disaster" and "not very feminine" prior to Dell'Olio's exit from the competition.
"[She was] cruel and unkind," Dell'Olio wrote. "I felt Miss Dixon's comments went above and beyond her role as a judge and were, I consider, defamatory and derogatory and directed at me personally as a woman, and did not fall within the context of an entertainment dance programme.
"To be labelled unfeminine in front of a live television audience of ten million viewers was degrading, humiliating and untrue and furthermore represented a very clear sexual innuendo.
"In light of the distress I have been subjected to, in the first instance I would like a public apology from Miss Dixon. I am also taking legal advice about other options that are open to me, including pursuing this matter further if it is not dealt with to my satisfaction."
Dell'Olio said that she would return to Strictly Come Dancing next year if Dixon was axed from the panel.
Watch Nancy Dell'Olio's final Strictly performance and Alesha Dixon's comments below:
Dell'Olio stated in the message sent to Strictly Come Dancing executive Moira Ross - and obtained by The Mail On Sunday - that she is prepared to take legal action against Dixon unless the panellist issues an apology for her comments on last week's live show (October 29).
© BBC
© PA Images
The Italian entrepreneur said that Dixon "meant to embarrass" her by describing her as "a walking disaster" and "not very feminine" prior to Dell'Olio's exit from the competition.
"[She was] cruel and unkind," Dell'Olio wrote. "I felt Miss Dixon's comments went above and beyond her role as a judge and were, I consider, defamatory and derogatory and directed at me personally as a woman, and did not fall within the context of an entertainment dance programme.
"To be labelled unfeminine in front of a live television audience of ten million viewers was degrading, humiliating and untrue and furthermore represented a very clear sexual innuendo.
"In light of the distress I have been subjected to, in the first instance I would like a public apology from Miss Dixon. I am also taking legal advice about other options that are open to me, including pursuing this matter further if it is not dealt with to my satisfaction."
Dell'Olio said that she would return to Strictly Come Dancing next year if Dixon was axed from the panel.
Watch Nancy Dell'Olio's final Strictly performance and Alesha Dixon's comments below:
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