Mature voice: Brucie says Beeb should have hung on to Arlene.
Strictly Come Dancing host Bruce Forsyth has revealed that he thinks the BBC was wrong to sack Arlene Phillips from the show. The choreographer was axed from the judging panel last year causing the broadcaster to be accused of ageism.
The 66-year-old was replaced by 31-year-old singer Alesha Dixon, who was a former winner of the dance competition.
Forsyth told Piers Morgan during his interview for Life Stories that ageism against women in TV made him "sad".
According to the Sunday Mirror, he said: "This ageism against women, I think, is terrible.
"I think Alesha did a wonderful job. But what I would have done, personally, I would have had five judges."
The controversial move to axe Phillips attracted over a thousand complaints from viewers.
Brucie also revealed that he was flattered by the campaign for him to be given a knighthood.
The 82-year-old, who was awarded the CBE in 2006, admitted that he was unlikely to be given the honour as he does light entertainment.
He talked about the internet petition which was delivered to Downing Street in 2008.
He said: "The public campaign to get me knighted was flattering and I am happy with my CBE.
"The greats of British light entertainment, like the Eric Morecambes and Tommy Coopers, are rarely recognised and that's a shame."
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