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Exclusive: Goodman concerned for Strictly’s audience without Phillips

Published Thursday 9 July 2009 at 17:11 by Matthew Hemley

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman has raised concerns that Arlene Phillips’ removal from the show could be an attempt by the Corporation to target a younger audience.

Responding to the announcement today from the BBC that Phillips is to be replaced by Alesha Dixon, a former contestant who won the show in 2007, Goodman said he hoped the decision would not impact on the series’ current fan base, which he said was likely to be made up of older viewers compared with other entertainment shows, such as The X Factor.

He told The Stage: “I hope the BBC are not trying to introduce a younger audience. I would imagine the show attracts an older audience to what you get on The X Factor. I hope it does not affect the fan base.”

Goodman admitted he was “sad” about Phillips’ departure from the show, and said he was worried that the dynamic on the panel of judges, which also includes Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood, might change without her.

He said he thought the panel had always “worked pretty well” as it was and added: “I am sad Arlene is no longer one of the judges because we got to know each other. We all got on, and knew what to expect, so it sort of changes the whole dynamic of the panel maybe, which is a little bit scary. I do feel sorry for her, because we are friends. But who knows, maybe Alesha will be fantastic and bring a different dynamic to the judging panel.”

He also said he was “bracing” himself for a pay cut when he returns for the seventh series.

“We are in the middle of a recession. Times are tough and a lot of people at the BBC are having to take a slight decrease in wages. But I have always felt that being part of Strictly is a pleasure and it’s nice to be doing a show that is so popular. It’s great to get a fee for doing a job you like,” he said.

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