Dame Arlene Phillips looks set to make a return to Strictly Come Dancing more than a decade after being axed from the much-loved BBC One dance show.
The choreographer from Prestwich is reportedly lined up for a stint in ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, which starts next month in Wales.
And a TV insider has told the Mirror that the BBC also want her back.
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“They want her back as a one-off stunt after she’s been with Ant and Dec,” the insider said.
“To have Dame Arlene make a special appearance on Strictly would suggest there’s no bad blood any more. It would look good after they got rid of her all those years ago.”
The decision to drop Dame Arlene, 78, from the Strictly judging panel in 2019 in favour of former winner Alesha Dixon, 42, sparked accusations of ageism at the time.
Arlene said about the decison: “I think it was handled so poorly. You then never forget those moments of turmoil.
“One minute you’re the focus of everyone’s attention, the next you are nowhere and pushed out of the way. It’s very hard to deal with.”
In 2018 she was linked with the BBC show again after choreographing one of the group numbers performed by the professional dancers.
Speaking at the time, she said: “I did this because this is where my heart lies.
"I didn’t do this about resolving anything with Strictly. Was it hard for me to say yes? I’ve got to tell you, it was really hard.”
Arlene has also been reportedly considered as a replacement for departing Dancing on Ice judge John Barrowman.
He leaves Dancing on Ice after two years but will continue as host of ITV’s upcoming All Star Musicals specials.
Last night a Strictly source said there were no plans for any guest judges to appear during this run.
