Strictly judges' jobs safe

25 November 2008 05:35pm

The BBC has slammed reports Strictly Come Dancing judges Arlene Phillips and Craig Revel Horwood face the axe.

The Daily Mail claimed the outspoken judges' jobs could be on the line if ratings for the show fall in the wake of John Sergeant quitting.

The newspaper claimed Arlene and Craig - who were particularly outspoken about John's poor dancing technique, branding him "lazy" and "the dancing pig" - were being held responsible.

But a BBC spokesperson said: "The story about the Strictly Come Dancing judges in today's Daily Mail is a load of rubbish. The judges' role in the show is to critique the contestants' dancing and that is exactly what they have done in this series and every series before it."

A source had told the Daily Mail the BBC's head honchos "were furious that John Sergeant fell on his sword", adding: "He was the most enormous ratings winner and executives think the judges overstepped the mark.

"Arlene and Craig have the axe hanging over them depending on how ratings do in the rest of the show over the next month.

"No action could be taken against the judges mid-series - it would be impossible to find replacements for a start. However, when the ratings figures start to come in, they will be carefully scrutinised."

© The Press Association