The BBC sexist brigade strikes again. This time, the victim is 66-year old Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips. Despite her experience and professional track-record, Phillips has been singled out for replacement out of an all-male judging panel. The BBC Controller tells us the decision has been taken in the name of ‘refreshing the brand’. Enter Alesha Dixon, whose credentials for the job include being a striking 30-year old singer and winner of last year’s competition.
If indeed we are to believe that Phillips was dropped simple to allow for a generational shift, the Strictly Come Dancing team featured plenty of candidates to choose from, not least 81-year-old Bruce Forsyth who will continue hosting the show; Head judge, 65-year-old Len Goodman or Phillips’ fellow judges 53-year-old Bruno Tonioli and 44-year old Craig Revel Horwood. Given that Phillips was the only one considered ‘too old’ to continue on the show, the message is loud and clear: the BBC does not do middle-aged women.
We have, of course, been here before. Phillips is but the last casualty in a long list of veteran BBC female broadcasters who have been systematically replaced by younger ones: from Moira Stuart, to Michaela Strachan or Juliet Morris, to name a few. In contrast, their male counterparts continue to thrive in front of the cameras well into their twilight years. ‘Refreshing the brand’ or institutional sexism? We can guess what would Phillips’ verdict be on this one.