Loving, creative, demanding.
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Arlene Phillips has not joined FLAPSS and has not endorsed it. This page is a reference record assembled from published interviews and public remarks. Every answer below is a direct quotation with the source and date shown next to it.
AP
Arlene Phillips
b. 1943
Arts and letters
About
Born in Lancashire, Arlene Phillips, 82, created the dance group Hot Gossip in the 1970s. She went on to become a world-renowned choreographer, and was a judge on Strictly Come Dancing from 2004-8. In 2021, she was made a dame for her services to dance and charity and in 2024 received an Olivier award for her work on Guys and Dolls. Her current shows include Starlight Express and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in London. She is an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society and is supporting its Forget Me Not appeal. She lives with her partner in London and has two daughters.
13 answers
Being let go from Strictly.
A Biba dress when I really couldn’t afford it. It was every scrap of my money and I’ve never parted with it.
In a Dagenham factory at 6am, picking soldiers’ greatcoats from wars around the world to sell at the market in Chelsea. I smelled like mothballs, and no one would come near me.
Like you’ve got hot-water bottles all over you.
My daughters and granddaughters.
One after the other, thoughts come banging in – and it’s no sleep for you tonight, dearie.
I play Classic FM in the car – emotional music brings me to tears thinking about people I’ve loved and lost.
Life is never fair.
Kind, thoughtful and gave damn good advice.
In school, I was 11, and we had to paint a picture of family life. My painting was held up to the class and I was told it looked like a spider with ink on its feet had walked across the page. It was done so viciously – humiliating.
Carlos Acosta, for his incredible achievement in dance.
Each time I gave birth.
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