This morning, the Daily Mirror reported that Liza Minnelli was being considered for a judge’s role on Strictly Come Dancing.
…Strictly chiefs may be taking quicksteps to replacing Alesha Dixon. And after last year’s ageism row - following the sacking of veteran judge Arlene Phillips, 66 - BBC bosses could be about to turn on their heels and waltz back into the arms of an older woman.
Cabaret legend Liza Minnelli, 63, is said to have been lined up as Alesha’s successor after just one series - although one of her knees will have to be replaced first.
Apart from the other odd mention of her knee replacement surgery (which is going ahead anyway, but as written implies it’s a precondition of sitting behind a desk and holding up paddles with numbers on) the piece seems to be more about knocking Alesha Dixon rather than providing anything concrete.
It would be possible, one supposes, that Minnelli could be Strictly bound, although I would have thought that she would be better used as a guest judge for the final shows, in the same way that Darcey Bussell was in the 2009 series. According to Digital Spy, though, the BBC denies it:
There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in this story - Liza Minnelli is not being lined up as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing
Personally, I think there’d be a much better match for Ms Minnelli’s judging talents. Surely as the daughter of Judy Garland and having given the finalists of I’d Do Anything a masterclass, she’d be ideal for the judging panel on the BBC’s forthcoming quest to find a Dorothy for The Wizard of Oz, Over the Rainbow?
Over The Rainbow? That's a good idea, Scott, and actually a far more plausible reason for having conversations with the BBC, if indeed she is even talking to them.