Strictly Come Dancing’s head judge Shirley Ballas has shared an “excited” update about the US version of The Traitors. Shirley’s son, Mark Ballas, will be taking part in the upcoming series of the hit show.
A new series of The Traitors US will be arriving to Peacock on January 8. It follows the UK version that captured the nation over the last couple of months. Comedian Alan Carr progressed all the way to the final and triumphed as a Traitor.
Fans will be delighted to hear that this edition of Celebrity Traitors won’t be the last as it will return for a second season. Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said: “Studio Lambert have done an outstanding job as The Celebrity Traitors has well and truly captivated the nation, becoming a bona fide highlight of the year bringing record numbers of people together to enjoy every twist and turn.”
Sharing a post from The Traitors US that announced her son in the line-up, Shirley wrote: “So excited. Nanny and I cannot wait to watch our boy Mark Ballas. Good luck.”
Mark has been part of the professional cast of Dancing with the Stars for nineteen seasons, and won it with TikTok star Charli D’Amelio last year. Shirley had Mark Ballas in 1986, he went on to become a professional dancer just like his parents.
On Instagram last week, Shirley shared a video of her grandson Banksi running into her arms before she lifted him into the air. She captioned the post: “Two years old… where did the time go little Banksi Wylde. Nanny and Great Grandma would like to wish you the best birthday ever.
“You are the sweetest, cutest, most beautiful little boy. I cannot put into words how much I love you. I’m very excited to see you again and give you a biggest cuddle. Have a remarkable day with Mummy, Daddy and any little friends that come over to play. Get up to lots of fun. We love you to the moon and back.”
In December 2023, son and dancer Mark Ballas announced the arrival of the baby boy, who was born on November 5. He celebrated becoming a dad with a social media post a month after Banksi’s birth. At the time, he wrote: “Welcome to Earth my son. Banksi Wylde Ballas 11 / 5 / 23.”
Sharing the heartwarming story of how she found out about the birth, Shirley explained: “I didn’t know [he had been born] until I got the call and had all my eyelashes and glam on and my son said ‘you look very glamorous’ and then held up little Banksi and said ‘here’s your grandson’. It was really quite a shock and surprise.”
She described her grandson as a “long awaited little boy” who was already her “pride and joy”. Shirley’s son was expecting a baby back in October 2022 but it was sadly discovered during a routine check-up that the baby no longer had a heartbeat.
In 1996, Shirley retired from competitive dancing and has since acted as an international coach and is now the head judge on Strictly. Speaking about Strictly to the BBC, she said: “Strictly is so loved by the British public, I have always been a massive fan.”