Alesha Dixon commits to 'Strictly'
 

Alesha Dixon has confirmed that she will be appearing on Strictly Come Dancing this year.

The 31-year-old singer, who won the celebrity talent show in 2007, replaced Arlene Phillips on the judging panel last year. She admitted that the ageism row which ensued nearly resulted in her quitting the programme.

She told The Sun: "There were split seconds where I thought I wouldn't go back but I don't believe in giving up, that's not in my personality or character.

"If I set myself a challenge I like to complete it. I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't feel I could."

Dixon added: "I rode the storm and everyone on set made me feel so welcome because I knew them from competing.

"When I was a contestant it was ten hours a day, every day for four months. As judge I sat there and got to watch some great dancing. The pressure of having to dance live was tough."

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One for its eighth series in September.

So pleased:), Alesha is lovely and pretty although this will upset her detractors more or those bitter that Arlene was axed:D.

I miss Arlene, I stopped watching because they axed her.

I'm not that bothered that she's a judge tbh, she's not that bad.

I disliked Arlene and glad she went, wasn't fair that Alesha got blamed for it when it was the BBC's decision and that they wanted her to judge:nono:.

Arlene was my fave judge though that is why it annoyed me.

Arlene was a much better judge than Alesha, but it wasn't Alesha's fault that the BBC sacked her.

Of course Arlene is a better judge than Alesha, she's a choreographer and has lots of experience... she made me cringe with her continous lusting over the men especially the raw sex comment to Matt Dawson which was hilarious at the same time.

Now they've got rid on some of the most popular dancers probably to disguise the fact that one of the judges doesn't know what the hell she's talking about. This shows days are numbered.