Shirley Ballas has addressed the controversy surrounding Strictly Come Dancing as she says she “stays in her lane”. The 65-year-old head judge returned to the panel on the hit BBC Latin and ballroom programme last weekend. 15 new celebrities took to the ballroom for the first time and showed off their dance moves with their professional dancing partners.
The head judge, who hails from Wallasey, cannot predict which of the celebrities taking part will be eliminated first. During the launch show, she discovered they have “all got a personality”.
And after seeing the stars do their first group routine with their professional dance partners, Shirley thinks “one or two” of the celebrities have “got the moves” to take them far in the 12-week competition.
Appearing on Tuesday morning’s episode of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, presenter Susanna Reid asked: “Who’s going to win, Shirley?” The “Queen of Latin” said: “Well, you know, it’s actually an even playing field.”
She continued: “There’s one or two of them that have got the moves, but I think this is going to be a real tough series, I really do. I wouldn’t even like to predict who I think is going to go home first. I had a good look when they were all doing their little dance on the launch show, and they’ve all got a personality – all of them.”
Shirley said Ellie Goldstein, 23, was “outstanding”, who is partnered up with 32-year-old professional dancer Vito Coppola. Speaking about Ellie – the first model with Down Syndrome to grace the cover of British Vogue magazine – Shirley said: “Ellie was just outstanding. She came out, and she’s loving every minute of this, and she just brought so much joy.”
The first live show of the new series starts on Saturday, September 27 and the first eviction show takes place on Sunday, October 5. But Strictly Come Dancing has faced controversy in recent years.
This includes the show’s former professional dancer, Giovanni Pernice, 35, who was suspended from the show. His 2023 partner, 51-year-old actress Amanda Abbington, made a complaint about his behaviour which was partially upheld following an investigation.
This year, The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner’s signing sparked online backlash. Earlier this month, the 34-year-old contestant picked up a journalist’s phone at a Strictly press conference before he walked out of the interview midway through.
Quizzing Shirley about the controversy that has hit Strictly Come Dancing, Susanna asked: “When you are there at the show recording, are you under a sense of responsibility because of the scandal that’s hit Strictly?
“Do you even consider it – obviously, we’ve got the issue around Thomas Skinner, we’ve got previous scandals. Or is it like a completely different planet of sequins and sparkles, and it just doesn’t touch the sides?”
Shirley insisted she does not get involved in the show’s controversy. She responded: “It doesn’t even touch the sides. Baubles, bangles and beads for me. I stay in my lane.
“I am there to do a critique from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. Co-ordination, synchronisation, beautiful personality. I don’t get involved in anything.”