Arlene Phillips returns as a dance judge

Arlene Phillips returns as a dance judge
Arlene Phillips returns as a dance judge (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Arlene Phillips is to make her return as a BBC dance judge after being axed from Strictly Come Dancing. The top choreographer is to be a panellist for the final of Let's Dance For Sport Relief tomorrow night on BBC1. She will cast her eye on the eight sets of finalists, who include Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards and Fatima Whitbread. Arlene, 68, was famously dropped from Strictly in 2009, which led to an ageism row. She was replaced by Alesha Dixon who has now defected to ITV1's Britain's Got Talent, prompting speculation that Arlene may consider a return to the BBC show. She takes her place on the Let's Dance panel alongside Frank Skinner and Rhod Gilbert. Arlene said: "I'm thrilled to be joining the panel on the Let's Dance final this Saturday night and looking forward to the run-ins with Rhod and Frank in deciding who has danced that extra mile for Sport Relief." The finalists, chosen by judges and viewers, have won their way through from four weeks of heats. Cash raised from voting goes towards Sport Relief. Other finalists include Tyger Drew Honey and Dani Harmer, Omid Djalili and EastEnders stars Tameka Empson and Laurie Brett.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.