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Strictly judge hints this series could be their last

Time to move on?

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She’s only just joined the show but Shirley Ballas has hinted it could be her first AND last as head judge on Strictly.

The former dance champion replaced old favourite Len Goodman this year but has come under fire from fans for making a series of gaffes and unpopular decisions.

They have been shocked to hear her get the contestants’ names wrong and annoyed by her decision to axe Aston Merrygold.

She’s also been mocked for missing her cue when making her entrance during the live shows.

Her unpopularity has left Shirley questioning whether a career in the limelight is really for her, according to The Sun Online.

The website reports that when quizzed on her future on Strictly, she did not express her desire to return, instead telling them: “Let’s wait and get this season over with first.”

Read more: Len Goodman teases Strictly return

Meanwhile, the MailOnline have reported that Shirley has found the press intrusion into her life difficult since finding fame on the show.

She said she found an interview her ex-husband gave to the press particularly difficult.

“I was not expecting that. I have lost family over this, so I have to figure out what is more important,” she said.

She added that she disagreed doing just one series would be too brief as she “did it for the experience”.

Shirley has been accused of favouritism at times on the show with the marks she’s handed out often at odds with those awarded by her fellow judges Craig Revel-Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli.

She’s also disagreed with them at times over who should leave after the dance-off, having the final say on Aston’s exit because she was head judge despite him being a contender for the glitterball trophy.

However, Shirley said if people don’t pick up the phone and vote for their favourite celebrity, they can’t blame her if they are them sent home.

“They put Alexandra in the bottom two and if I would have sent her home they would have blamed me but they put her there,” she said referring to last week’s shock dance-off between the singer and Susan Calman.

However, the comment highlights how out of touch she is with many of the viewers, who aren’t fans of Alexandra and would rather have seen her leave over the entertaining comedian.

But Shirley said she always judges her final decision on who is the best in the dance-off as that is what she has been told to do by BBC bosses.

“I asked if I could judge on this (performance throughout the series) but no I have to judge on that (the dance-off),” she explained.

As a result, some viewers have found her a welcome addition to the judging panel because of her dancing expertise and accurate critical eye.

Read more: Strictly’s Debbie McGee reveals the truth about her wedding ring

Despite her ups and downs on the show, Shirley said she has enjoyed being offered the opportunity.

She said of her time on Strictly: “It’s been an experience. And at 57! It’s been wonderful.”


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor