Arlene Phillips says Brendan Cole’s Strictly Come Dancing sacking is like ‘divorce by telephone’
ARLENE Phillips has described Brendan Cole's Strictly Come Dancing axing as a "divorce by telephone".
The professional dancer revealed the shocking news that he would not be returning to the BBC One dancing show during an appearance on Lorraine earlier this week.
Brendan, 41, had taken part in all 15 series of Strictly but had received a call from show bosses last month to tell him his contract would not be renewed for this year's series.
The star was on the verge of tears when he appeared on Tuesday's edition of Lorraine and said the news was still "hard to talk about".
But Arlene, 74, - who previously shared her shock at his dismissal - says she understands all to well what Brendan is going through, having been sensationally sacked from her role as a judge back in 2009.
The move caused a furore at the time as former winner Alesha Dixon was brought in to replace her and the BBC was promptly accused of ageism.
Speaking at The Pure Package Wellness Awards at BAFTA, Arlene told : "I message Brendan all the time and he calls me.
"It’s like a divorce, isn’t it. It happens, it’s divorce by telephone, you get a phone call and suddenly it’s like ‘hello, my family’s gone’.
"I’m here and they are there.”
But despite fans blaming new head judge Shirley Ballas for Brendan's sacking, Arlene is convinced the BBC won't go back on its decision.
She added: "The BBC won’t change their mind. There was a big campaign to get me back but they have made their decision.
"The BBC will do what the BBC do. I understand what Brendan is going through.
"Suddenly you are dropped and all the big fish have swum away from you."
However Arlene thinks Brendan was lucky to have at least received a phone call to be told the news, which is something she didn't get.
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She explained: "The BBC didn’t even tell me. I found out from 5Live.
"The truth was that two days before it happened to me I had lost my closest friend and my manager.
“When I came to London, aged 23, he was my friend and agent.
"He passed away and he had negotiated my contract. I wasn’t in a fit state to do anything. I was grieving.”
Meanwhile, The Mirror also claims that Shirley, 57, has signed back up to Strictly as head judge for another year.
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