DANCING star and Welwyn Garden City beauty Alesha Dixon will be on the judging panel of this year's glittering Strictly Come Dancing. The news – confirmed today (Thursday) by the BBC – means the winner of the competition's 2007 series will take over from

DANCING star and Welwyn Garden City beauty Alesha Dixon will be on the judging panel of this year's glittering Strictly Come Dancing.

The news - confirmed today (Thursday) by the BBC - means the winner of the competition's 2007 series will take over from former judge Arlene Phillips.

Announcing the move, BBC One controller Jay Hunt said: "As a former Strictly champion, Alesha knows exactly what it takes to win.

"Her eye for great performance and her charisma and charm make Alesha a great addition to the judging panel."

Speaking about her return to the show, Alesha, a former Monk's Walk pupil and Mis-Teeq starlet, said: "I'm honoured and excited to be joining the judging panel.

"I've always felt like part of the Strictly family and really believe in the show."

Strictly Come Dancing will return for its seventh series on BBC One in the autumn.