Alesha Dixon won’t replace Len Goodman as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing “
Singer is sad to see head judge leave BBC One dancing show after next series
ALESHA Dixon has ruled herself out of the race to replace Len Goodman as the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
The 72-year-old revealed he was quitting the hit BBC One dancing show after the forthcoming series, having presided over the judging panel since the programme began 12 years ago.
Speculation immediately began about who would be announced as his replacement, but former judge and contestant Alesha Dixon has ruled herself out of the running.
Speaking at the AOL Build UK event on Friday, Alesha said: "No I'm certainly not going back. For me it's about moving forward and actually I'm really sad that Len is leaving but I totally understand.
"I had a great catch up with Bruno Tonioli recently and it's a massive deal because he's been there from the start."
Alesha won series five of the show in 2007 with professional dancer Matthew Cutler, before replacing Arlene Phillips on the judging panel from series seven.
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The 37-year-old left the show in 2012 after three years as a judge to take up a position on ITV's Britain's Got Talent alongside Simon Cowell.
Meanwhile Len confirmed in a statement that this year's series would be his last, saying: "In 2004, I was asked to take part in a brand new BBC Saturday night show and who would have thought me, old Len Goodman, would still be part of this amazing series more than 10 years on.
“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."
However Alesha doesn't think BBC bosses should replace him, believing the remaining judges, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno would work fine as a trio.
She said: "I think it could work as a three, if it works with three in America, why can't it work with three in the UK, and just have Craig as head judge?"
While Alesha has no intention of picking up her gold paddles again, she still looks back fondly on her time on the show and when she lifted the glitterball trophy.
She said: "It ended up being one of the most incredible experiences of my life, I literally felt like I had been given a second chance and when the show ended, on the actual night that I won, I know it sounds corny, but I thought 'everything's going to be okay' and it kind of has, it was a real blessing.
"I worked hard on that show, I trained 10 hours a day for four months and it was really worth it."
