Strictly star Arlene Phillips turns down show as she admits 'it would be truly awful'

Arlene Phillips turned down a huge TV show (Image: Getty)

Arlene Phillips revealed she has turned down a huge TV opportunity this year as she is too busy with other work.

The former Strictly Come Dancing judge, 81, is still choreographing musicals and in April, won an Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer alongside James Cousins.

Speaking to Express.co.uk at the Pride of Britain Awards, Arlene admitted she has no intention of slowing down, saying: "I've got so much work coming up that I'm wondering if I'm going to have enough years to do it all."

Arlene went on to reveal that she has turned down appearing on a huge TV show this year.

The world renowned choreographer continued: "I won't share which one because the people who are doing it, they don't want to know that I've turned it down. That would be truly awful."

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Arlene admitted she has no intention of slowing her career down (Image: Getty)

Opening up about her current work, Arlene confessed that she is looking forward to having time off during the festive period.

She said: "It takes a very long time to put on a musical, around three to six months. Now I've got Christmas and New Year off and I've never taken that before. I cannot remember the last time I had more than one or two days off."

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The presenter shared her excitement at spending Christmas with her grandchildren, voicing hopes that it'll be their best one yet.

Arlene, who was a judge on Strictly from its launch in 2004 until 2008, also spoke of her brutal axing from the BBC series.

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Touching upon her sudden departure, Arlene held no ill-will towards the decision as she declared: "I'm a grown up so when life comes along and it doesn't go the way you want, you just get on with it."

Arlene sat on the panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli before being replaced by Alesha Dixon, who won the show in 2007.

Asked if she would ever return, the former dancer declared: "They would never ask me so I would never think about it. It's not even an option."

Despite her abrupt exit from the show, Arlene still has a long-standing admiration for the show, adding: "I loved being on Strictly. It's very dear to my heart that I was there right from the start."



Strictly star Arlene Phillips turns down show as she admits 'it would be truly awful'

Strictly star Arlene Phillips turns down show as she admits 'it would be truly awful'

Strictly star Arlene Phillips turns down show as she admits 'it would be truly awful'

Strictly star Arlene Phillips turns down show as she admits 'it would be truly awful'
Strictly star Arlene Phillips turns down show as she admits 'it would be truly awful'
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