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Shirley Ballas said ‘nobody is bigger than Strictly Come Dancing’(Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has said “nobody is bigger” than the show and revealed she expects it to go on for a long time despite the scandals that have recently rocked it.
The dancer and TV personality, 65, has been on the show since 2017, serving as head judge – but Strictly recently changed its judging system, meaning a different judge is given the deciding vote in the dance-off every week, so the decision doesn’t always fall on Shirley. The show has been hit by months of scandals, and earlier this week, it emerged that one of its stars from a previous year has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
The arrest came two months after an earlier arrest involving a different Strictly star. After hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman revealed the latest season is the last one they are presenting together, there have been questions about whether the show will continue as normal in 2026.
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Shirley alongside her fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke(Image: PA)
However, The Mirror understands that the show, which is currently midway through its 23rd series, is still commissioned for 2026 and there are no active plans to remove it from the BBC’s line-up. Shirley has also expressed her positivity for the future of Strictly and said she believes it will live long after she is gone.
“Nobody is bigger than Strictly Come Dancing,” she told The Sun on Sunday. “Not me, not any presenters, not any dancers – that show belongs to the people.
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“When I came on the show in 2017, nobody knew me, and it was, ‘Oh, will it fail? Will it be this? Will it be that?’ It carried on ticking, and it’ll carry on ticking long after I’m gone and kicked my clogs.”
Shirley told the publication that Strictly is “a wonderful show” and said the BBC should be praised for doing “everything in their power to help the country enjoy the show on a Saturday evening.” The judge also gave a shout-out to “the people behind the scenes,” which she said are the ones who “make the show” every week.
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The judge praised all the team that works on Strictly(Image: BBC)
On tonight’s show, Tess and Claudia informed viewers that La Voix has been forced to withdraw from the competition following an injury. This means no contestant will leave the show this week, and there won’t be a dance-off tomorrow.
The 45-year-old RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, was initially given a bye to the next round of the competition after the injury was announced last week, but will now go no further on the BBC dancing programme.
Speaking at the start of Saturday’s episode, presenter Tess said: “Now, as you may have heard, Le Voix sustained an injury, meaning that she can’t dance in Blackpool tonight, and following further advice from our medical team, we can now confirm she has, very sadly, had to withdraw from the competition.”
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La Voix has had to withdraw from the show
Claudia said: “We will be speaking to Le Voix on tomorrow night’s show, we love you so, so much.” In a post on Instagram, La Voix said: “I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’m letting people down.
“My spirit wanted to keep dancing, but my foot has other ideas. Thank you for every cheer, every vote, and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish this forever.” La Voix, who was paired with professional dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec, could be seen watching in the audience at Blackpool on Saturday, where the show’s remaining six couples will perform
