Alesha Dixon has denied the singer ditched Strictly Come Dancing for a bigger Britain's Got Talent pay cheque, insisting: "It was never about the money."
Simon Cowell reportedly landed the former Mis-Teeq star after tempting her with £350,000, believed to be more than three times the £100,000 salary she earned as a judge on rival show Strictly.
But her manager Malcolm Blair is adamant that Dixon simply fancied a career change and wasn't tempted by the lucrative offer.
Blair explains: "It was never about the money. Alesha's had three incredible years on Strictly but there comes a time when you have to move on."
Meanwhile, music mogul Cowell is thrilled with the new addition to the panel of his popular talent series.
He says: "I love Alesha. She is feisty, opinionated and knows what it's like to be both a competitor and judge on a hugely popular TV show. This is going to be a brand new experience for her and I think she is going to bring a lot to the table. I'm really looking forward to working with her and hope we get the opportunity to find a star together."
