Just What Is Going On With The Strictly Come Dancing Judges?

Posted on 14/04/2023 by Boris Clair

It might seem way too early in the year to be discussing Strictly Come Dancing, but the show has already been making headlines thanks so some rumoured unrest among the judging panel.

Here’s what you need to know…

Why is everyone talking about the Strictly Come Dancing judges?

There has been speculation that this year could see some changes on the Strictly panel, which first began when head judge Shirley Ballas hinted she might not return.

Last month, Shirley said the intense trolling she received during last year’s series had taken its toll, and had made her consider whether she’d go back.

Admitting she had been “struggling” in 2022, Shirley told The Mirror: “I felt the abuse snowballed out of control and impacted me in such a negative way….

“And that was an all-time low since I joined the show – it was the most negativity I’d ever experienced.”

Asked if she considered quitting, Shirley replied: “It was a difficult series, I’ll leave it at that…

“Will I go back to Strictly? I always take one step at a time,” she said.

However, she walked those comments back somewhat during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show last week, suggesting negotiations were were currently taking place between her team and the BBC.

“Well… I do believe it’s in the process. Is that the right way to say it? Yes.. their people are talking to my people,” she told the chat show host.

Shirley confirmed she was in negotiation to return to Strictly during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show

Since the, The Sun has claimed that Shirley and her fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are pushing for a pay rise to seal their returns.

The paper claimed the judges are chasing an 11 per cent increase, which is above the rate of inflation.

They quoted an unnamed source who claimed that things had apparently reached somewhat of a “stand off”, with the BBC refusing to bow to the demands due to the current cost of living crisis and the freeze the government imposed on the BBC licence fee last year.

However, these reports have not been verified.

Why is this all happening now?

While the new series of Strictly Come Dancing is still six months away, people work on the production of the show all year round.

As well as beginning conversations with some potential celebrity contestants, bosses also start confirming the line-up of professional dancers, judges and presenters early doors – as HuffPost UK learned last year when we ran our Backstage At The Ballroom series, speaking to those who work behind the scenes of the show.

Last year, for example, the judging line-up was confirmed in mid-May, with the announcement Anton was returning for his second full series as a judge.

The Strictly judges during last year's series — The Strictly judges during last year’s series

We’ve also seen Rylan Clark depart Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two this week, proving that bosses are starting to shape what this year’s series will look like.

What have the judges said?

After The Sun’s story about the judges’ reported pay dispute came out this week, HuffPost UK contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke for comment, but did not receive any responses.

However, it is highly unlikely any party would speak out on the specifics of the negotiations, as it is pretty standard procedure that organisations or individuals do not comment on artists’ contracts.

So, what next?

While it’s difficult to say who will be back on the judging panel this year until an official announcement is made, Strictly’s enduring popularity has proved that no individual is bigger than the show.

Having survived many other changes to the judging line-up over the years – the most recent of which saw Anton replace original judge Bruno Tonioli – whatever happens, we can all be sure that the nation’s favourite show will continue to sparkle when it returns in the autumn.

Strictly’s Fleur East Reveals Husband’s Surprising Reaction To Her Latest ‘Steamy’ Routine

Posted on 15/10/2022 by Boris Clair

While plenty of celebrities have said the idea of their spouse watching them up close and personal with their professional partner has put them off signing up for Strictly Come Dancing, it seems Fleur East is not one of them.

In fact, the former X Factor finalist has revealed that her husband Marcel is so supportive of her Strictly journey that he’s encouraging her to turn up the heat when she performs her Argentine Tango at the weekend.

Speaking on her Hits Radio breakfast show, Fleur revealed: “[The Argentine Tango is] very hot and steamy and obviously it’s really hard to get into the mode of that!

“It’s quite awkward when you’re in rehearsals. It’s like ‘this is weird’. But we both said we need to do one where we fully go for it, and we commit to that passion and that emotion.

“So we went for it – and it was quite intense – and my husband Marcel was there watching and at the end of the dance he went ‘hmmm… More!’. I was like ‘What? Are you sure?!’. He said, ‘you need to commit to this and you need to give it 100%’.”

Fleur East and Vito Coppola performing together earlier in the series

Fleur and her dance partner Vito Coppola are hoping to bounce back after landing in the dance-off for the first time last week, with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all voting to send Richie Anderson home over the Sax singer.

However, Shirley Ballas admitted she would have saved Richie over Fleur, which caused something of a controversy among Strictly viewers, with the Head Judge revealing she’s received a wave of abuse online in recent days.

Sticking up for Shirley, Fleur recently told The Mirror: “I think it’s really unfair, actually. I have the utmost respect for all the judges.

“But Shirley…if you’ve not seen her dance, she’s incredible. So, any time I stand there I’m like ‘Just give me the notes, what do I have to do?’.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday night at 6.30pm on BBC One.

Strictly Come Dancing Result: Loose Women Star Kaye Adams Is First Celebrity Voted Off

Posted on 02/10/2022 by Boris Clair

Kaye Adams has become the first celebrity to be voted off this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The Loose Women star found herself in the bottom two alongside singer Matt Goss on Sunday night’s results show after the judges’ scores were combined with the results of the viewers’ votes.

Both stars faced each other in the dreaded dance-off, with Kaye and her dance partner Kai Widdrington performing their Charleston, whilst Matt and his dance partner Nadiya Bychkova performed their Samba in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="4935" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":5,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-8–qCvrbQ","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Kaye Adams & Kai Widdrington Charleston to Music! Music! Music! ✨ BBC Strictly 2022","author":"BBC Strictly Come Dancing","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-p7mK8hRVvV86yREq342A","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Stream Strictly LIVE on BBC iPlayer 💃🕺 https://bbc.in/2MyAdzw\nSubscribe and 🔔 to BBC Strictly ✨ https://bit.ly/2kzjjAT\nSubscribe and 🔔 to BBC 👉 https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\n\nCelebrities take to the dance floor to perform a dazzling display of ballroom routines.\n\nStrictly Come Dancing ✨ Series 20 ✨ BBC\n\n#BBCStrictly #BBCStrictlyComeDancing #BBCiPlayer #BBCStrictly2022 #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly #SCD #dance #dancing","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y-8–qCvrbQ/hqdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":480,"thumbnail_height":360,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"

"},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isMt":false,"entryId":"63396595e4b02816452abd26","entryTagsList":"uktv,strictly-come-dancing,we-love-tv,loose-women,shirley-ballas,matt-goss,kaye-adams","sectionSlug":"entertainment","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.entertainment","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"63396595e4b02816452abd26","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"uktv","slug":"uktv","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/uktv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/uktv","mobileWebLink":"https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/uktv"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"UK TV","slug":"uktv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/uktv/"},{"name":"Strictly Come Dancing","slug":"strictly-come-dancing","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/strictly-come-dancing","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/strictly-come-dancing","mobileWebLink":"https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/strictly-come-dancing"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Strictly Come Dancing","slug":"strictly-come-dancing","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/strictly-come-dancing/"},{"name":"we love tv","slug":"we-love-tv","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/we-love-tv","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/we-love-tv","mobileWebLink":"https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/we-love-tv"},"topic":{"title":"We Love TV","slug":"we-love-tv","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/we-love-tv/"},{"name":"Loose Women","slug":"loose-women","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/loose-women","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/loose-women","mobileWebLink":"https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/topic/loose-women"},"section":{"title":"Entertainment","slug":"entertainment"},"topic":{"title":"Loose Women","slug":"loose-women","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/loose-women/"},{"name":"Shirley Ballas","slug":"shirley-ballas","links":{"relativeLink":"section/shirley-ballas","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/section/shirley-ballas","mobileWebLink":"https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/section/shirley-ballas"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/shirley-ballas/"},{"name":"MatT goSS","slug":"matt-goss","links":{"relativeLink":"section/matt-goss","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/section/matt-goss","mobileWebLink":"https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/section/matt-goss"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/matt-goss/"},{"name":"Kaye Adams","slug":"kaye-adams","links":{"relativeLink":"section/kaye-adams","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/section/kaye-adams","mobileWebLink":"https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/section/kaye-adams"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/kaye-adams/"}],"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0}}”>

[embedded content]

After both couples had danced a second time, the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas – delivered their verdicts.

Craig chose to save Matt and Nadiya, as did Motsi, who said: “Well that was so close, both couples made mistakes. I feel like they were on the same level, but one couple was a little bit better for me, and I am saving Matt and Nadiya.”

Anton Du Beke also chose to save Matt and Nadiya, admitting it “wasn’t a vintage dance-off”.

<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="5813" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":10,"contentListType":"embed","code":"

","type":"video","meta":{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InSngG0acqQ","type":"video","version":"1.0","title":"Matt Goss & Nadiya Bychkova Samba to Night Fever by Bee Gees ✨ BBC Strictly 2022","author":"BBC Strictly Come Dancing","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-p7mK8hRVvV86yREq342A","provider_name":"YouTube","description":"Stream Strictly LIVE on BBC iPlayer 💃🕺 https://bbc.in/2MyAdzw\nSubscribe and 🔔 to BBC Strictly ✨ https://bit.ly/2kzjjAT\nSubscribe and 🔔 to BBC 👉 https://bit.ly/2IXqEIn\n\nCelebrities take to the dance floor to perform a dazzling display of ballroom routines.\n\nStrictly Come Dancing ✨ Series 20 ✨ BBC\n\n#BBCStrictly #BBCStrictlyComeDancing #BBCiPlayer #BBCStrictly2022 #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly #SCD #dance #dancing","thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/InSngG0acqQ/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"thumbnail_height":720,"cache_age":86400,"options":{"_start":{"label":"Start from","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_end":{"label":"End on","value":"","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s"},"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}}},"fullBleed":false,"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[{"attribs":{},"scriptBody":"\r\n (function(){\r\n var c = document.getElementById(‘taboola-endslate-thumbnails’);\r\n c.id += ‘-‘ + Math.round(Math.random()*1e16);\r\n \r\n var taboolaParams = {\r\n loader: \"//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/aol-huffingtonpost/loader.js\",\r\n mode: \"thumbnails-b\",\r\n container: c.id,\r\n placement: \"Endslate Thumbnails\",\r\n target_type: \"mix\"\r\n };\r\n \r\n if (typeof window.modulousQueue === \"function\") {\r\n \twindow.modulousQueue.add(function(){ doTaboola(taboolaParams); });\r\n } else {\r\n \tdoTaboola(taboolaParams);\r\n }\r\n }());\r\n"}],"otherHtml":"

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline\", \"entry_paragraph_2\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0}}”>

[embedded content]

With three votes to Matt and Nadiya, it meant they had won the majority vote and so Kaye would be leaving the competition. However, head Judge Shirley Ballas said she would have decided to save Kaye and Kai.

When asked if she agreed with the other judges, Shirley said: “I didn’t. I thought due to a little better quality, I would have saved Kaye and Kai.”

When asked by host Tess Daly about their time on the show, Kaye said: “It was the right result and I did make mistakes, and when it comes to that high pressured situation that’s what happens. So I am delighted for Matt and Nadiya, the only person I am just sorry for is this wonderful man [Kai], who has just been so brilliant.

“It was a hell of a lot of fun, I said my ambition was to learn to love to dance, and actually I have seen a whole new side to myself, it’s opened a little door. It’s been a wonderful experience and to spend time with such talented people who love the show. So much has been a joy.”

Kaye Adams and Kai Widdrington perform on the second live show of Strictly Come Dancing 2022.

Kai was then asked if he had any words for Kaye and said: “Only we know how much real hard work has gone into this. There has been lots of ups and downs and we won’t go into them, but this lady is a trooper, and I know what she’s been going through in the week.

“For this woman to come out and give the performance that she did tonight really shows the testament to her character. I am proud of you, I know that your girls and your other half are proud of you, but the most important thing is that you should be proud of yourself, because you are a superstar.”

The remaining fourteen couples will take to the dance floor again next week for the annual Movie Week Special when Strictly returns on Saturday 8 October at 6:30pm. The results show follows on Sunday 9 October at 7:20pm on BBC One.

Shirley Ballas Thanks Strictly Viewers Who Spotted Lump Under Her Arm, As Docs Discover ‘Concerning’ Symptoms

Posted on 27/10/2021 by Boris Clair

Shirley Ballas has thanked Strictly Come Dancing viewers after they spotted a lump under her arm, which led to her speaking to a doctor.

The 61-year-old head judge said viewers had helped her discover “concerning” symptoms in her body.

After seeking medical advice, Shirley said that doctors had discovered her hormone levels are “not right” and she needs some scans.

“All in all a little concerning for my doctor,” she said, adding that she had made a hospital appointment.

She wrote on Instagram that her doctor was “making an appointment to check certain odd things happening in my body”.

“To each and every one of you who started me on this road thank you so much,” she began. “I’ll keep you all updated. Remember health is wealth so I’ll be on top of these issues for the time being. With gratitude to you all.”

In an accompanying video message, the former ballroom champion – who had surgery to have breast implants removed in 2019 – said tests had shown her testosterone levels to be “ultra-high”, her oestrogen levels “extremely low”, and that she needs scans on her adrenal glands and ovaries.

Fellow judge Motsi Mabuse was among those to send messages of support, writing, “take care of yourself”, while Tess Daly said she was “sending love”.

Olympian Adam Peaty, who is competing in the current series, added: “Sending all my love and positive energy.”

Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas Defends Dev Griffin’s Controversial Exit

Posted on 14/10/2019 by Boris Clair

HuffPost is part of Verizon Media. Verizon Media and our partners need your consent to access your device and use your data (including location) to understand your interests, and provide and measure personalised ads. Verizon Media will also provide you with personalised ads on partner products. Learn more.

Select ‘OK’ to continue and allow Verizon Media and our partners to use your data, or select ‘Manage options’ to view your choices.

WellnessMaster

Get The Latest News on Holistic Wellness

Category Archives: Shirley Ballas