Everyone appears to be pretty vocal regarding Alesha’s decision to join the judging line-up in this years ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Actress Lynda Bellingham, 61, is a little more vocal on the supposed ageism issue – and Arlene’s replacement by Alesha, some 30 years her junior. “Age is a number, it’s a cliche that the only thing you’ve got to be aware of as you get older, is if you let it all go”, declares Lynda. “She’s still in the show, if it was about ageism she wouldn’t be in the show and if they weren’t speaking to each other she wouldn’t be in the show and I think as far as Alesha goes – she’s innocent until proven guilty – give the girl a chance. It’s a show it’s about entertainment, it’s not real life.”
Dancer Anton Du Beke and his partner this year, Footballer’s Wives star Laila Rouass take a more humorous approach to skirting round the issue – suggesting new judge Alesha Dixon will side with her former partner Matthew Cutler when it comes to scoring. “It’s good having Alesha as a judge, ’cause she can look at it from my side, she knows what I’m going through”, says Laila. “But the only thing is she danced with Matthew – so she better not be on his side.”
“I reckon Alesha is completely biased!” declares Anton. “She’ll swing it towards Matthew every time. They love each other. Matthew comes out and she’ll give him ten without waiting for him to dance!”
But dancer Flavia Cacace feels having a former Strictly winner on the judging panel could be to her and partner Craig Kelly’s advantage.
“I hope Alesha will be able to relate to the celebrities and how they’re feeling”, she says. “I think that’s nice because she can understand a little bit more how they’re thinking so it might be a nice twist. I think Arlene will be missed but Strictly evolves like anything and she’ll still be part of the show.”
Source: Sunday Mercury
