Since its debut in 2004, the judges and professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing have become as integral to the show as the celebrity contestants themselves.
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Over the past 21 seasons of the show’s impressive run, the series has witnessed some dramatic changes, including the dismissal of popular figures, an infamous termination that led to an uproar over age discrimination and dancers slamming the show.
The series has seen everything from professionals resigning on moral grounds to judges being unceremoniously ousted, ensuring a never-ending supply of drama on the BBC show. As fans get ready for the finale of the latest series of the popular BBC dance show, Daily Star take a look at some of the show’s most brutal exits.
Arlene Phillips
Arlene Phillips, who was an original judge on the show, was 76 when she shockingly learned of her dismissal via Radio 5 Live in 2009. Distraught Phillips, 66, was “heartbroken” to be replaced by Alesha Dixon, who was much younger at age 30 at the time. Arelene compared the experience to a painful breakup, saying: "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."
Despite a public backlash and threats to boycott the show, Arlene said BBC bosses would never allow their minds to be swayed. "There was a big campaign to get me back but they have made their decision. The BBC will do what the BBC do," she continued.
Kevin Clifton
The departure of Kevin Clifton, affectionately known as "King Kev", was a surprise to many. After winning the Glitterball Trophy with now-girlfriend Stacey Dooley in 2018, Clifton left the show in 2019 following what was rumoured to be a "humiliating" season for the reigning champion. Despite reportedly having high hopes of winning again, he and celebrity partner Anneka Rice, 61, were the second couple to be eliminated and he was relegated to a backing dancer despite having served seven loyal years on the show. Kevin hinted that he wanted out at the time, telling Katie Piper: “It has to happen at some point, I don’t see myself doing this when I’m 40.”
Camilla Dallerup
Camilla Dallerup, who was engaged to fellow dancer Brendan Cole at the show's inception, faced personal turmoil in 2004 when their relationship ended amid speculation about his closeness to his celebrity dance partner, Natasha Kaplinsky. Both Natasha and Brendan denied an affair, but Dallerup likened the break-up to a "mini-death".. Brendan later broke his silence in 2018, hinting that he did get involved with Natasha – but only once his marriage was over.
For Camilla, watching her fiancé grow close to another woman on the show left her 'broken'. "To this day I have no idea whether it was her fame and celebrity that swept him away or if he really did feel a strong connection with her," she previously told The Mirror. "I’m guessing it was probably a bit of both. It felt as if the fact that we’d just got engaged meant nothing to either of them. “What was really hurtful was not just that Brendan appeared to have forgotten he was engaged, the entire nation seem to have forgotten he was engaged." At rock bottom, she binged on self-help and hypnosis CDs and books and after winning Strictly with actor Tom Chambers in 2005, she quit to retrain as a life coach.
Brendan Cole
Brendan Cole's relationship with news anchor Fiona Phillips in 2005 was fraught, leading the former GMTV presenter to label him a "real b****r".
She described his eventual sacking from the show as “karma”, stating: "He was really naughty. He's not on the show now. Karma indeed. It works its way every time." Throughout his 14-year tenure, Brendan frequently took the judges to task and even publicly blasted the show over dancers' wages.
He was also rumoured to have been embroiled in a behind-the-scenes feud with head judge Shirley Ballas , after she scored the head judge job he'd been favourite for. And in January 2018 he made a tearful appearance on ITV's Lorraine revealing he'd been given his marching orders. I’m a little bit in shock. I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it," he told the show. "I've always known this day would come… I’m sure I’ll never know the ins and outs. I’m a very strong character within the show, I have my strong views."
James Jordan
James Jordan, who joined Strictly with his wife Ola, was known for his clashes with judge Craig Revel Horwood. In 2014, after eight years on the show, Jordan was demoted to a backing dancer role, which he rejected, feeling his dedication to the show had been overlooked. A source close to the couple said at the time: “He is fuming. He very much sees himself and Ola as the stars of the show and can’t understand why he hasn’t been invited back.
"He has spent years working with them and feels he has given so much. This has come as a real shock to him.” He went on to star in Celebrity Big Brother where he slagged off the hit show, calling the rest of the professionals were 'beige' and 'not massive characters.'
Ola Jordan
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Ola Jordan, the longest-serving female dancer at the time, continued for one more season after her husband's departure. However, she left in 2015, reportedly due to growing frustrations with the show's management. A source said at the time: "This has been on the cards a while. She's very loyal to James so when he was forced out it left a sour taste." Ola was also slammed by judge Craig Revel Horwood who suggested she should be banned from taking part in “sexy shoots”, such as one she did for her 2016 calendar, which likely played into rumours or behind the scenes tensions on the show.
Strictly Come Dancing Final airs Saturday, December 16
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