Arlene Phillips has said that she would have loved to come back as a judge on this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing – because of two celebrity contestants in particular. The 73-year-old choreographer appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday when she was asked whether she would consider returning to the show.
"Len (Goodman) is going, and as always, when the BBC says goodbye, the BBC do what the BBC want to do, so I have no clue," she replied. "But I do know that I would like to be there this year because Greg Rutherford is absolutely adorable! And I think Judge Rinder? Closet dance lover!"
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Arlene Phillips said she would have loved to be a judge on this year's Strictly
Arlene was one of Strictly's original judges when the show began in 2004, but she was replaced in 2009 by former winner, Alesha Dixon.
Strictly will return for its 14th season next month, with an official launch show on 3 September. It will mark head judge Len's final series. The 72-year-old has led the panel ever since the show started 12 years ago, but announced in July it was time to step down.
"This adventure began when I was 60 and now that I've reached my 70s, I’ve decided after this year it's time to hand the role of head judge to someone else," he said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to my last series very much, and to whatever comes next."
This will be head judge Len Goodman's final series of the show
This week the final three Strictly celebrity contestants were revealed. Long jumper Greg Rutherford, Birds of a Feather's Lesley Joseph and EastEnders actress Tameka Empson - who plays Kim Fox - were all announced live on air during Monday night's episode of The One Show.
The trio join former Labour politician Ed Balls, singers Anastacia and Will Young, presenters Laura Whitmore, Ore Oduba, Melvin Odoom and Naga Munchetty, ex pop star Louise Redknapp, actor Danny Mac, model Daisy Lowe, Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane and reality TV star Robert 'Judge' Rinder