Bruce Forsyth has finally spoken out over the BBC sacking Arlene Phillips as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. Host of the show, Bruce, says they were wrong to axe Arlene, 66, and replace her with Alesha Dixon, 31.
Slamming the decision he said he felt "sad" that TV remained ageist against women.
Speaking on ITV's Piers Morgan's Life Stories the 82-year-old star said that he felt TV had one rule for older male stars and another for women.
He explained: "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."
Perhaps if Brucey spoke up at the time Arlene might have stayed, or did he complain and the Beeb ignored him?
In the frank interview, to be screened next Saturday, Bruce also tells how he lost his virginity in the back of a car.
The twice-divorced star - now married to third wife, former Miss World Wilnelia Merced - admitted his first romp was with an unnamed former co-star in an Austin 10.
"There wasn't much room, but we made the most of it," he joked. Not the nicest thought to end on.
Do you think TV is ageist against women?
Reader Comments (13)
j at 1:08PM on Mar 15th 2010
The change was obviously ageist, just as was the replacing of Terry Wogan by the Ginger Whinger which at a stroke cut out most of the TOGS type of presentation and was aimed at getting a younger audience. Older viewers and listeners just don't count to the BBC even though they are the ones that pay the licence fee for their children and grand children.
Of course the proper, and most sensible thing would have been to have five judges. It would have stopped the ludicrous system by which one judge can go against the others and choose to save his favourite.
dick mandley at 3:14PM on Mar 15th 2010
lost your virginity in the back of a car brucie? did they have cars when you were of an age for that sort of thing?!!!!
Cyberpup at 1:45PM on Mar 15th 2010
Obviously it was ageism. Does nobody else remember when the sun newspaer was claiming people on the show said Bruce forgot his lines & was past it?
Geoff at 2:02PM on Mar 15th 2010
Typical, after the fact when he is safe "Old Bruce" speaks out, but he is correct BBC like ITV have their views and like the government they wrongly believe their views are the views the public want to hear. How very wrong they are again and they will remain wrong until a radical change strikes though the top level of Televion Management Mandarins. Get into the real worldwhile we have a system that can be made to work.
Brian at 6:20AM on Mar 16th 2010
Bruce: Can you get an interpreter to explain to me what your rant is actually saying?
c ghanmi at 2:08PM on Mar 15th 2010
I think the world of tv and celebs in general is ageist, fatist, and wholly fake and unhealthy.
The media in general is just a vessel to inflate ego's and destroy others. If you are in you're in, if you're out it's goodbye.
c ghanmi at 2:10PM on Mar 15th 2010
this is an ageist world
beechform at 1:45AM on Mar 16th 2010
Arlene was awful - irrespective of age.
However good she may have once been as a choreographer, her performances as a judge were cringeworthy.
I won't miss Wogan either. He should go in a box with Charlie and his precious Goons.
... and I'm pretty much the same age as all three!
d shaddock at 2:28PM on Mar 16th 2010
maybe you are losing your marbles
Keith at 5:40AM on Mar 16th 2010
Have the BBC lost their marketing skills as well as their marbles.The "oldies" is the biggest growth area.Soon they will be targetting a market of a handful of spotty youths.