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Strictly judge Shirley Ballas ‘stopped eating’ because she was envious of Darcey Bussell’s figure

Star opens up about insecurities

It’s been a tough week for Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas.

First, professional dancer Dianne Buswell had to plead with her social media followers to stop sending the judge death threats, after they blamed her for Dianne and partner Dev Griffin’s early exit.

Then Shirley revealed that, as a result of her “tough week”, she decided to hook herself up to a vitamin drip because she was feeling “under the weather”.

It’s been a tough week for Shirley (Credit: Splash News)

Now the star has spoken out about her insecurities when she joined the judging panel of the BBC One dancing show.

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Shirley told the Daily Mail that she felt so insecure when it came to sitting next to former ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell that she took drastic measures to lose weight.

I had a little phase at the beginning, you know, when I was sat next to this really beautiful lady, Darcey Bussell, that I stopped eating.

Said Shirley: “When I first went on Strictly I had a little phase at the beginning, you know, when I was sat next to this really beautiful lady, Darcey Bussell — this ballerina, this Snow White beauty — that I stopped eating.”

Shirley with Bruno Tonioli, former judge Dame Darcey Bussell and Craig Revel-Horwood (Credit: Splash News)

Shirley said the phase continued “until I looked at myself and realised I looked so gaunt”.

The gorgeous star – who now has a handsome toyboy beau – revealed that she’s been plagued with insecurities her whole adult life.

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And she said that, over the years, people have been pretty unkind to her.

Shirley admitted: “Over the years there have been things said you wouldn’t say to a dog, let alone a person. But I just keep moving on, keep trundling on, keep swimming upstream.”

Shirley said she felt insecure sitting next to Darcey on Strictly (Credit: Splash News)

However, things changed for the star when she met actor Danny Taylor last Christmas, when they both appeared in the pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk in Liverpool.

“I really feel I’ve met somebody who cares about me. I go to bed with a smile on my face. I wake up with a smile on my face. Every day is precious,” she said.

Last weekend, the Strictly judges were slammed for what viewers see as the most controversial elimination of the series so far.

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Nancy Brown
Associate Editor