Dance judge joins Olympic fitness drive

Published on Thursday 13 August 2009 21:14

ARLENE Phillips – recently dismissed as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing – will be part of a "dance champions group" tackling obesity and improving the nation's fitness in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics, the government announced yesterday.

The replacement of Phillips, 66, after four years on the BBC 1 show sparked controversy last month, with Equalities Minister Harriet Harman telling the House of Commons she suspected age discrimination and called on the BBC to reinstate her. Former winner Alesha Dixon, 30, will be the new judge.

Phillips, who will be joined by some of the show's former stars, including television presenter and model Lisa Snowdon, said she hoped to promote Chinese-style free, open-air dance events.

"In China, where in open spaces people join in and take t'ai chi with the masses, it's there, it's available," she said.

"What I am hoping is that we are going to find enough accessible and open spaces for people to take classes and make it free and make it accessible."

She refused to comment on her departure from Strictly Come Dancing.

Yesterday's announcement by the Department of Health came after Health Secretary Andy Burnham said people on incapacity benefit should take more exercise, which could help them back to work.