Part 1

Hello all,

Wanted to fill you in on some more of my goings on, so here’s what I’ve been up to!

Following on from my trip to Venice, I forgot to mention I bumped in to Michael McIntyre at the airport and we had a lovely catch up, he never fails to have me in stitches. I then arrived at home to find the most amazing plate of cupcakes all homemade by Abi – although I did limit myself to just the one! They were beautifully placed around a stunning display of flowers, it was such a joy to come home to.

So who watched the first live show of So You Think You Can Dance and what did you think? Thank you all for the lovely twitter comments about my new hair style – I’ll let you into a secret though it was the lights that made it look red I hadn’t actually dyed it! The style was all down to my amazing hairdresser Mitch, and of course my makeup was by Alana as always.

The next morning I was up bright and early to film Something for the Weekend with the lovely Louise, we were both feeling pretty exhausted so it was double espresso’s all the way! We always have such a great time together talking about everything from clothes to being mothers and our families, even though we are a completely different generation. I’m looking forward to spending the next few weeks at the BBC together. We’re always in each other’s dressing rooms gossiping away, it’s amazing we actually make it on set in time!

I managed to catch up with a couple of old friends this week, Emma Hendry and Michael Frayley, both whom were involved in Starlight Express with me from way back in the 80’s, and I was thrilled we had the opportunity to catch up as Emma lives in Australia and Michael in Las Vegas, and it’s amazing we have all managed to keep in touch over the years. It was tea and cakes at my house, and I realised that’s two lots of cake for me this week, but what else is as fun to catch up with friends over?

I popped in to see the Wizard of Oz on Tuesday just to see how everyone is getting on, and I was so pleased the show is looking stronger than ever – so if you haven’t seen it yet make sure you do!

This week I’ve also been in lot’s of meetings for various projects, and I’ve got a big shoot on Thurs although I can’t tell you what yet as it’s still a secret… although I promise you’re going to love it.

Finally after much coaching from my daughters I’ve learnt how to use my Facebook, so have a look and tell me what you think of my page! It’s another way for me to keep in touch with you and put up pictures and little updates, so please send me messages of things you’d like to know or any questions you have and I’ll try and answer as many as I can. Here’s the link http://bit.ly/fqtFJl

Sorry it’s only a short blog this week, but I’ve got so much more coming up I know there’s going to be plenty to tell you when I can reveal a bit more about my mystery meetings…

Until then, Happy Bank Holidays!

Love A x

Holiday madness

Hello all!

Once again an insanely busy week – although the latter part of it was definitely for fun only as I’l tell you about in a bit…

Did anyone catch out their friends or family on April fools day? I fell for a good one about Vincent Simone and Midnight Tango, click on the link here to see what happened! http://strictlycomeblogging.blogspot.com/ and read ‘Opening night in doubt’…
I ended up phoning my co-producer to check if it was true, and of course he knew nothing about it… and then I realised April fools! The show opened in Jersey over the weekend and it was a whirlwind trip there and back to see the first night, and worth every second. It’s an incredible show don’t miss it! Vincent and Flavia are without doubt the King and Queen of Argentine Tango. I couldn’t be there for the nights in Southampton, but I’m looking forward to seeing it again in Oxford next week, hope to see some of you there too!

Have you been watching So You Think You Can Dance? Has anyone got any favourites yet or people they wanted to go through but didn’t? I know a lot of you liked the boy who taught himself to dance in the shadows, what an inspired thing to do. It was a shame he couldn’t pick up the choreography as there was really something there, I just hope he keeps working and comes back next year to audition. Talking of people coming back – who remembered Bethany – wow what a difference a year’s training makes! So now you’ve seen our top 20 what do you think? They’re all so different, and I can’t wait to start the live shows on Saturday to see their explosive routines they’ve been working on to kick off the new series!

I had a lovely Mothers Day with my family. We went out for lunch, and both my girls gave me beautiful gifts, I felt very special! A book of early Andy Warhol photographs from Alana, and Abi made me the most amazing woven basket filled with flowers and a handmade card. A quick potter around Selfridges shoe department and then home to get ready for a charity event. The charity is Future Dreams, set up by a young girl to raise money for breast cancer which she had sadly lost her mother to. Tragically last year she lost her life to the same disease, and my good friend Stuart Sweeting had taken on the mantle to continue raising money. It was a stunning show held at the Savoy Theatre and I was honored to introduce one of the items. All in all a perfect day, then it was back home to pack for the week ahead and catch the end of one of my favorite TV shows Lewis!

I finally managed to get away for a week before the live shows and the madness of So You Think You Can Dance starts, so I jumped on the Eurostar with 5 of my family and we went on a magical journey to Paris, then carried on through on through to Zurich where we stayed for a night, then flew to Milan for a night then on to Venice for 3 nights! It was filled with fabulous hotels, stunning sunshine, rifling through vintage shops, the most beautiful Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition, gondolas through the canals, visiting the Murano glass factory to buy their colored glass bottles for my collection, trying to avoid Prada but bumping into Miu Miu, walks through the piazza, St Marks Square…. and of course too much food! Phew! Venice really is the most heavenly of places, it was a truly magical if not jam packed week and I loved every minute of it!

If you’re stuck for something to do this coming weekend why not come and see me at the Cambridge Wordfest on Sunday – hopefully it’s be another lovely weekend so a great day out for all! http://www.cambridgewordfest.co.uk/festivals/spring/event/view/arlene-phillips

I hope the weather stays this sunny and you all have a fabulous week…

Until next time
Ax

Umbrellas at dawn

Hello all! So who watched the first episode of So You Think You Can Dance on Saturday?!  What a fantastic first show, I loved the opening with Matt and Stephanie, I think it really set up what this series is all about – real talent!  I can’t wait to start the live shows in a couple of weeks, we’ve got an exciting new production team, as well as some of the gang from last year so always great to meet new faces and catch up with old ones!  I hope you’re all going to be watching this week at the slightly earlier time of 6:30 – don’t miss it! 
 http://t.co/Qx6bTDt Possibly the most disturbing thing that happened was on the night I went to Sadlers Wells to see the new Pet Shop Boys ballet ‘The Most Incredible Thing’, which I have to say unfortunately wasn’t, although that wasn’t the worst of it…  As I was sat with my partner just underneath the edge of the balcony above I suddenly found myself wondering what was this liquid that was coming down on us? I looked and to my horror it was a woman projectile vomiting all over the edge of the balcony and down onto my brand new white wool jumper!  Never in my life in theatre has this happened to me and let me tell you I hope it won’t ever again!!
I had a slightly better theatre experience at the Umbrellas of Cherbourg where I bumped into Jonathan Ross, who stunned me with his knowledge of the most obscure dance musicals that only a true film buff would know, we could have talked for hours!
I went on the Steve Wright show the other afternoon to talk about the new show I’m producing Midnight Tango starring Vincent and Flavia that opens this weekend in Jersey – and that’s where I’m off to on Saturday, so wish me luck for opening night!  
http://www.midnighttango.co.uk/I’ve been doing so many interviews about all my projects this past week. I went on the Steve Wright show to talk about Midnight Tango starring Vincent and Flavia.  I went on the new Fern Britten show with Griff Rhys Jones, he really was hilarious, I also had a fabulous chat with Lorraine, that woman has the most amazing amount of energy it’s infectious!  I went on the Alan Titchmarsh show where Vincent and Flavia performed a breathtaking routine from Midnight Tango, and it was great to catch up with the lovely Robin Cousins and Karen Barber in the green room backstage.  I was very envious of Karen’s nails, she’d had a Minx wrap in gold and silver and they looked fantastic, I want to know where I can get one done?!
I did a really fun shoot for The Sun Buzz Magazine that came out last weekend did anyone see it? I was styled as Madonna in the iconic Vogue video and I had two very hot male models vogueing behind me!  I loved getting all dressed up in the suit with really fabulous hair makeup that Alana did for me, she really knows how to make me feels confident when I’m doing something that would usually be out of my comfort zone, and the shoot looked hot!
I was lucky enough to be chosen to have a moving portrait taken that will be going up around London.  It was for a series called Influential Londoners so make sure you look out for it… Another thing to look out for are the two new books in my Alana Dancing Star series that will be out on the 5th May, I never dreamed I would be able to write one book, and yet here I am announcing two more in my series! 
I went to the Pimms Summer party at the incredible Lambeth Palace the other night and had a long overdue catch up with Tom Chambers and his lovely and very pregnant wife Claire! We all tucked into barbeque and non alcoholic cocktails in the beautiful secret garden of the palace that was strung up with fairy lights and looked magical. 
I also managed to fit in a visit to QVC to promote my new collection in the jewelry line I designed, and had a great hour on the channel with my favorite host Pippa Gordon.  The collection is all based on my vintage jewelry pieces that I wear all the time and wanted to share with you all so hope you like it… You can see it all here 
bit.ly/dLAfVH I finally finished my day with a shoot for the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, talking about my most treasured possessions and what they mean to me, and then it was back to the Palladium for a quick check up on the Wizard of Oz, and that just about brings me up to now!
I hope the rest of the week is as fun and full, and that you all enjoy this Mothers day weekend I know I will, and I’ll let you know what I got up to next week!
Love Ax