Arlene Phillips blasts Strictly for ‘ridiculously’ high scores

Arlene Phillips has hit out at the Strictly Come Dancing judges for being too generous with their scores.

The former dancer, 66, who was replaced as a judge on the BBC1 show by pop star Alesha Dixon, 30, said the panel was giving the contestants "ridiculously" high marks out of 10.

"Points are too high": Arlene Phillips

She said: "I've done an overall mark for everybody and theirs are nowhere near where mine are. I think Craig is the only one marking what he sees, and he gets booed." Saturday night's show saw the panel award 32 out of 40 points to Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle despite it being his first dance on the show.

Footballers' Wives actresses Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass both scored 30 in their first ever dance. She also hit out at the decision of most judges to give Jo Wood five out of 10.

Jockey Richard Dunwoody became the second contestant to be kicked off the show, following former tennis ace Martina Hingis, who left last week.