**Dame Arlene Phillips Frequently Mistaken for Fellow Strictly Judge Shirley Ballas**
Dame Arlene Phillips, a revered figure in the world of dance and choreography, has revealed she is regularly mistaken in public for her successor and fellow Strictly Come Dancing judge, Shirley Ballas. At 82, Phillips finds that her contribution to the iconic BBC dance show is remembered by fans, though sometimes not in the way she expects.
Throughout her four-year tenure on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel, from 2004 to 2008, Dame Arlene earned a reputation for her keen eye and honest critiques. However, since stepping away from the judges’ table, it seems that recognition for her role sometimes gets misdirected. Explaining the confusion in a recent interview with The i newspaper, Dame Arlene shared, “People come running up to me shouting, ‘Shirley! Shirley!’ and I have to say, ‘No, I’m the other one!’”
Dame Arlene’s departure from Strictly in 2009 stirred significant public debate at the time. She was replaced by Alesha Dixon, a decision that led to over two thousand viewer complaints and widespread accusations of ageism. Despite the controversy, Dame Arlene recalls insulating herself from the backlash. “I guess I… I didn’t notice it that much at the time. I wrapped myself in my world and got on with life,” she said, reflecting on those turbulent weeks.
Even long after leaving the programme, fans continue to approach Phillips, often expressing regret at her exit from the primetime show. “(People approach me) all the time to say, ‘You should never have gone!’” she admitted, highlighting just how fondly viewers remember her straightforward style and expertise.
Though no longer a regular on Strictly Come Dancing, Dame Arlene still keeps up with the show, albeit in a more casual manner. She tends to watch “in bits and pieces on catch-up,” rarely dedicating the whole Saturday night slot but maintaining her ties to colleagues. Phillips counts head judge Craig Revel Horwood and choreographer Jason Gilkison amongst her close friends and enjoys seeing the dance performances they stage each week. “I love watching the big dance number Jason’s created,” she remarked enthusiastically.
Far from slowing down in her eighth decade, Dame Arlene continues to pursue bold new projects. At 78, she was the oldest-ever participant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, proving her appetite for fresh experience remains undimmed. Most recently, she has turned her attention to a gender-reversed adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a testament to her ongoing creativity. “Why would I [retire], when there are so many interesting opportunities out there? New ideas keep you young,” she said.
However, Dame Arlene is not shy about expressing her concerns over new trends in reality television, particularly the involvement of politicians in such programmes. Speaking to the Daily Mirror’s Diary column last year, she questioned the wisdom of allowing politicians and ex-politicians to participate in shows like Strictly or I’m A Celebrity. In her view, this entertainment exposure risks diminishing public respect for the individuals governing the nation.
“I’m not big on politicians, even ex-politicians, going into the jungle or dancing on Strictly. I actually don’t like them making fools of themselves,” Dame Arlene stated. Emphasising the need for role models in public life, she added, “We try to teach our children and grandchildren to respect people who are governing and running the country, not going on shows, doing silly little games.”
Dame Arlene Phillips’ reflections offer an intriguing glimpse into both her enduring passion for the performing arts and her desire to see standards maintained on television. As she continues to innovate and inspire, it is clear that her legacy in British entertainment is far from written in the past.