Alesha Dixon factor fails to pull in young Strictly viewers

The arrival of Alesha Dixon on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel has failed to attract more youngsters to the show.

Complaints: fans criticised Alesha Dixon as the new judge

In another blow to the BBC's celebrity dance show, figures show it has lost a lot of its under-16 viewers to ITV rival The X Factor.

Just 24.8 per cent of children watching TV on a Saturday night were tuned into BBC One for the first five episodes of this year's Strictly. The share of 16 to 34-year-olds watching Strictly also dropped from 27.5 per cent to 25.2 per cent, while The X Factor saw a more than two per cent increase.

The BBC had hoped to draw in a younger audience to this year's show by replacing former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips, 66, with Dixon, 31, the show's 2007 winner. But the corporation was accused of discriminating against older women by axing Phillips. Hundreds of viewers also complained about Dixon's performance as a judge, saying she was inexperienced.

A BBC spokesman said: "It is quite wrong to state that Strictly has changed its format in an effort to attract younger viewers.

"The show was refreshed this year after listening to feedback from our audiences and we are extremely pleased with the way it has been performing for audiences of all ages."

Meanwhile, the show's presenter Bruce Forsyth has been forced to make a U-turn after he said the nation should have a "sense of humour" after dancer Anton du Beke, 43, called his actress partner Laila Rouass, 38, a "paki" when she had a spray tan. Today Forsyth, 81, said: "The use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable."

Amy Winehouse, 26, will appear on Strictly tomorrow, to back goddaughter Dionne Bromfield, 13, despite rumours suggesting she was in rehab.