Too old for TV? Not me, says Arlene Phillips
In her first interview since Alesha Dixon defected from Strictly to ITV rival Britain’s Got Talent, Arlene tells me: ‘I’ve tried to place everything from Strictly aside and move on with my life. I’m content with doing what I’m doing. I don’t need it to any extent further.
Speculation: Arlene Phillips has had no contact with BBC bosses regarding a return to Strictly Come Dancing since Alesha Dixon’s departure
‘But something i’ll say is that i feel people like me as a judge because i will be sharp, but i will even be loving. Specifically, I’m fair and knowledgeable.’
My Strictly insiders tell me no discussions have taken place with any potential replacements for Miss Dixon because a brand new boss for the show continues to be being sought following executive producer Moira Ross’s move to new BBC1 talent show The Voice.
Arlene, who’s producing West End show Midnight Tango, starring Strictly professionals Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, hasn’t worked out what her answer will be if a phone call does come from Strictly bosses.
‘I haven’t considered it, Once I walked far from Strictly, i made up my mind to begin living on what’s here and what’s now,’ she says.
Brucie bonus: The television presenter says she has no plans to retire and desires to emulate Bruce Forsyth’s longevity
‘There’s nothing else at the agenda for me except for taking things as they arrive.’
And if the BBC chooses another individual for the role? Arlene replies: ‘I’m absolutely proud of whatever they need to do.’
The 68-year-old has no plans to retire from TV, saying: ‘I haven’t even considered slowing down. i would like to be dancing on TV once I’m Bruce Forsyth’s age. i think so completely accepted that my age doesn’t stand before me.’
She’s even launching a lingerie line with mail order company Marisota to prove you don’t need plastic surgery to work in showbusiness as an older woman.
‘People will wonder why I’m doing this, however it’s to indicate you don’t need implants to be on TV,’ she says.
Arlene has also been associated with the brand new Andrew Lloyd Webber talent show, Superstar, on ITV within the spring.
But she says: ‘I haven’t even discussed it with Andrew. i’m chatting with him in regards to the stage productions of The Wizard Of Oz and Starlight Express, which we wish to make loads of changes to.
‘Underneath all this, I’m a tough-working choreographer and that’s the best thing i must do.’
Less viewers: It has been privately acknowledged that axing Jason Gardiner has brought about a dip in Dancing On Ice viewing figures
Goodbye Mr Nasty. Hello nasty ratings. That’s the placement facing ITV’s Dancing On Ice after Sunday’s show dipped to 7.3 million viewers, the bottom-rated episode in its history.
My sources say it truly is being privately acknowledged that axing caustic judge Jason Gardiner was a ‘potentially catastrophic mistake’.
‘Dancing On Ice is a pleasing family show,’ says one insider. ‘But a lot of people tuned in precisely to listen to what outrageous insult Jason would throw at a hapless celebrity after their performance.
‘He was box office — and the ratings to date are proving that.’
Backstage on the NTAs
Recently
departed Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly couldn’t pick up her
award because she was on stage in Oliver Goldsmith’s 18th-century
comedy She Stoops To beat on the National Theatre. Katherine (above)
came upon she had won the highly sought-after gong for best serial actor
performance only after receiving a text message on the end of the show.
First
she was the star of BBC Breakfast. Then the surprise new face of
Channel 5 News. Now ITV desires to give an everlasting role to freelance
Natasha Kaplinsky, who was hosted by channel chiefs in a personal suite
on the O2 Arena through the National Television Awards. A source at ITV
says: ‘We’d like Natasha to become portion of the ITV family on an exclusive
basis.’
Hapless
Michael McIntyre nearly didn’t make it to pick out up his award after being
stuck in traffic — and later security guards initially refused to let
the BBC comedy star in the course of the VIP entrance to the after party.
Party: Downton Abbey star Robert James-Collier, who plays Thomas
Party’s over for the Downton stars
The Downton Abbey crowd, led by ITV Director of Television Peter Fincham, partied the night away following the show’s win for best drama.
Rob James-Collier, who plays gay footman Thomas, told me it’ll be their last chance to party before shooting the highly anticipated third series of the hit show. ‘We begin filming next week and it runs through to August, but we’re all excited to come back,’ he said.
While Brendan Coyle, aka valet Mr Bates, revealed of the newest script: ‘Honestly, it’s so good that my mouth fell to the ground.’
