A bleeder circuit , comprising: a bipolar junction transistor , wherein the bipolar junction transistor comprises a collector , an emitter and a base , the collector is configured to be connected to a rectified output of a phase cut dimmer to receive a bleed current, and the emitter is configured to be connected to ground; and a bleeder circuit controller , configured to control the bipolar junction transistor , the bleeder circuit controller is further configured to generate a control signal for controlling the bleed current through the bipolar junction transistor and measure a signal indicative of a current flow through the phase cut dimmer and apply a current limit to a base-emitter current flow as a function of the measured signal, and in an off-state of the phase cut dimmer , the bipolar junction transistor is controlled by a base current limitation such that current sink capability of the bipolar junction transistor at the collector adapts to the current flow through the phase cut dimmer ; characterised in that the bleed current comprises: an off-state current during the off-state of the phase cut dimmer ; a latching current required for the phase cut dimmer to transition from an off-state to an on-state; and a holding current required to maintain the phase cut dimmer in an on-state once it is in said on-state; and wherein the control signal is further configured to place the bleeder circuit in a high current mode when an output voltage of the phase cut dimmer is in a level where the bipolar junction transistor starts to operate in a saturated mode. a bipolar junction transistor , wherein the bipolar junction transistor comprises a collector , an emitter and a base , the collector is configured to be connected to a rectified output of a phase cut dimmer to receive a bleed current, and the emitter is configured to be connected to ground; and a bleeder circuit controller , configured to control the bipolar junction transistor , the bleeder circuit controller is further configured to generate a control signal for controlling the bleed current through the bipolar junction transistor and measure a signal indicative of a current flow through the phase cut dimmer and apply a current limit to a base-emitter current flow as a function of the measured signal, and in an off-state of the phase cut dimmer , the bipolar junction transistor is controlled by a base current limitation such that current sink capability of the bipolar junction transistor at the collector adapts to the current flow through the phase cut dimmer ; characterised in that the bleed current comprises: an off-state current during the off-state of the phase cut dimmer ; a latching current required for the phase cut dimmer to transition from an off-state to an on-state; and a holding current required to maintain the phase cut dimmer in an on-state once it is in said on-state; and an off-state current during the off-state of the phase cut dimmer ; a latching current required for the phase cut dimmer to transition from an off-state to an on-state; and a holding current required to maintain the phase cut dimmer in an on-state once it is in said on-state; and wherein the control signal is further configured to place the bleeder circuit in a high current mode when an output voltage of the phase cut dimmer is in a level where the bipolar junction transistor starts to operate in a saturated mode. <EOS>