BBC brings back its older stars to put record straight

Choreographer axed in Strictly ageism row joins stellar cast for ‘uplifting’ show about getting old

THE BBC has invited back stars who have previously been pushed out for younger models for an “uplifting” new show about ageing.

Arlene Phillips, the choreographer who became embroiled in an ageism row when she was axed from Strictly Come Dancing for a singer less than half her age, has signed up to the BBC One show, Holding Back The Years.

Her 2009 axing from the panel of Strictly in favour of the younger and far less qualified Alesha Dixon was seen an emblem of the ageism and sexism that many felt was rife at the corporation. Labour’s Harriet Harman even raised questions in the House of Commons regarding the sacking.

Despite Phillips being given a new show a year later, So You Think You Can Dance, it too was axed after one series due to low ratings.

But now the 73-year-old will join Bill Turnbull, 60, the former BBC Breakfast host, Maureen Lipman, 70, the comedy star, Ainsley Harriott, 59, the TV chef, and broadcaster Angela Rippon, 72, in a show about getting older.

Each episode of the BBC One show, broadcast in the mornings of one week, will involve a celebrity exploring one issue of getting older from their own perspective. They will choose a topic such as relationships, health, wellbeing, pensions or changing appearance.

“Through meeting inspirational characters, unearthing long-lost archive clips and visiting places that do amazing work helping the elderly, the series seeks to take an uplifting look at a subject often ignored,” the BBC said.

“Holding Back The Years is a new series looking at the experiences of growing older in Britain today, and how they’ve changed over the decades.

Each episode sees a different 60plus-year-old celebrity explore a par- ticular aspect of getting old that interests and affects them most – from relationships and family to health and wellbeing, pensions and money, to simply looking in the mirror and seeing a ‘new’ old you.”

The show has been announced along with other new BBC One daytime titles being launched, including quiz show The Boss, hosted by the Scottish comedian Susan Calman.

The BBC is also turning the lens on road workers in The A1 Highwaymen, getting builders Getting The Builders In and bringing broken objects “back to life” in a BBC Two show The Repair Shop.

Phillips, who has made just a few cameos for the corporation since her departure, including an episode of Holiday of My Life in 2014 with her former colleague Len Goodman, was not the only person embroiled in the ageism row.

In 2009, Miriam O’Reilly, then 55, won an age discrimination case against the BBC after she was made redundant from her job on Countryfile.