Reality TV
'Strictly Come Dancing' Bruce Forsyth: 'Arlene Phillips axe was wrong'
Published Saturday, Nov 19 2011, 17:15 GMT | By Daniel Sperling | 8 comments
Strictly Come Dancing host Bruce Forsyth has called for Arlene Phillips to return to the show's judging panel.
The veteran entertainer said that it was a mistake to replace Phillips with Alesha Dixon in 2009, as he believed there was room in the contest for both.
"It was very wrong to get rid of Arlene," he told The Mirror. "They could still have Alesha because she is a past champion but they could have five judges."
Forsyth added that he was hoping for his wife of 28 years Wilnelia Merced to be invited onto Strictly.
"I would love her to be on. I did propose it but it fell on deaf ears," he revealed. "On the Christmas show it wouldn't do any harm. On the main show if she ever got really good people might complain but on the Christmas one I really can't see the problem. She is very good at Latin dancing, but at ballroom she doesn't know that much."
Phillips told Digital Spy this summer that she has no intention of returning to Strictly.
> Strictly Len Goodman 'disappointed' by Arlene axe
The veteran entertainer said that it was a mistake to replace Phillips with Alesha Dixon in 2009, as he believed there was room in the contest for both.
© BBC
© BBC
"It was very wrong to get rid of Arlene," he told The Mirror. "They could still have Alesha because she is a past champion but they could have five judges."
Forsyth added that he was hoping for his wife of 28 years Wilnelia Merced to be invited onto Strictly.
"I would love her to be on. I did propose it but it fell on deaf ears," he revealed. "On the Christmas show it wouldn't do any harm. On the main show if she ever got really good people might complain but on the Christmas one I really can't see the problem. She is very good at Latin dancing, but at ballroom she doesn't know that much."
Phillips told Digital Spy this summer that she has no intention of returning to Strictly.
> Strictly Len Goodman 'disappointed' by Arlene axe
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