Shirley Ballas, the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing, sat down with WhichBingo to discuss the most recent series of the show, her career highlights and future ambitions.
On Chris McCausland’s Victory and the Latest Strictly Season
Reflecting on the last series, Shirley couldn’t hide her admiration for the champion, Chris McCausland. “Chris came in and thought he was going to make week two or three and went on to win,” she said. “All things are possible if you’re focused and concentrated and if you have the right team around you that understands your needs. I think it was quite remarkable”.
The camaraderie of the season’s contestants also stood out to her. “We definitely had a team of celebrities that all got along, that were all striving for the same goals.
“Each and every one of those people came on that show and from the beginning, when they walked down the steps, nobody wanted to go home. They all got along so graciously and so beautifully, which was lovely.
“We had no divas on the show. None at all. Each and every one of them put their best foot forward. And you could see, I think, from the camaraderie amongst them all how fabulous they all were.
“I would say it’s one of the best series to date”.
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Why Strictly Has Stood the Test of Time
When asked why Strictly Come Dancing continues to captivate audiences, Shirley shared, “Strictly has lasted so long—we’re over 20 years old now—because it’s for everyone. It’s for families. It’s for the young ones. Sometimes I get little letters or drawings that I put on my refrigerator. And then I get grandmas and grandpas who might be a bit grumpy because I sent their love home”.
She added, “Every year we seem to get a great cast. Every year we have people with different journeys, and I think this year was no exception. It was absolutely outstanding from the beginning to the end”.
Adapting to the Role of Head Judge
Having taken over from Len Goodman eight years ago, Shirley told us how she approaches the daunting task of judging. “I think I’m a person that is always seeking knowledge and who always wants to learn. I’m not that person that goes in and thinks, oh, this is my Saturday job. Oh, great. I can just waffle. I’m not that person, I’m in the industry”.
She continued, “I’m constantly learning, trying to find new ways to deliver to the general public. Listening to the viewers at home and sharing knowledge, that’s what it’s all about for me.
“My responsibility to the show is to stay in my lane, deliver my message on a Saturday to 15 individuals who are learning to dance. And my job is to try to give them, in a constructive and positive way, little tips that they can use going forward to make them, each and every one, a better dancer. That is my job. I stay in my lane. I never go outside my lane”.
Proudest Achievements and Lifelong Drive
When asked about her proudest career moments, Shirley pointed to her family. “I think the proudest achievement of my career was having my son when I was 25, right in the middle of winning the World Championships in 1983 and splitting with that partner. Then I got to navigate the world with my little boy. So, I would say that he’s my biggest achievement. And of course, now he’s made me a grandma”.
She also highlighted her resilience in returning to the top of her field. “The first part of my career was straight to the top, and the second part of my career was like a slow turtle crawling up a mountain top, to get back to winning again”.
Her drive remains undiminished. “I just have a constant drive. I don’t want to sit in the morning or go shopping. I want to keep busy. Whether it’s 40% of my time given to charities or whether it’s me working in my own job or giving back to Strictly and of course, all the things that come with it”.
On Facing Challenges in the Jungle
Discussing her recent appearance on Celebrity Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls, Shirley described the experience as “petrifyingly terrifying from the beginning to the end”.
She recalled, “We had to share our space with critters, mosquitos and flies. Actually, they were sharing their space with us”.
Shirley admitted she pushed herself far out of her comfort zone. “There was one point, where he [Bear Grylls] was teaching us how to survive and showed us how to pee in this plastic bag with the food in. In a bag. And then you put this thing in and then there’s your drink and there’s your food.
“I mean, my face says it all. But of course, me being me I’m always the one that will go and try everything. So, I think I did things that were way out of my comfort zone.”
The experience taught her a love for nature and self-reflection. “I learned that I actually love the outdoors and I’m looking forward to doing some more outdoor things. I learned to like my own company because I’ve always been a little bit nervous about being without my phone, without my friends, without my mum”.
When asked if she would join I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Shirley didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. If one day they do not require my services on Strictly anymore (the shows run parallel), I might go into the jungle”.
Looking Ahead to New Challenges
As for future projects, Shirley is keeping her options open. “You never know. I like things for the challenge. I’d love to go and work on a farm like mucking out pigs. I love Animals.
“I’d love to exchange places. I would love somebody to enjoy my life for a week and go in and do my job, and then I would like to exchange places with them”.
When we asked her who she’d love to have as on Strictly Come Dancing in the future, Tom Jones and Royal family members are top of the wish list: “I would love somebody from the Royal family, because they love the show. I would also love a member of the public planted clearly inside the show so that they could see what it’s like with the celebrities.
“And I would Ideally, love Tom Jones just so I could watch him samba to, ‘it’s not unusual to be loved by anyone’. I would love to meet that man in my lifetime”.
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