Shirley Ballas vows '100% stay' on Strictly amid judge exodus rumours

Shirley Ballas has moved to quash growing speculation that she is preparing to leave Strictly Come Dancing, declaring with defiant certainty that she is "100 per cent" staying with the BBC. The Daily Mail reported ^[1] that the 66-year-old head judge is balancing her duties on the UK show with a new judging stint for Dancing With The Stars in the US, dismissing rumours of an exit as she navigates a busy schedule.

Speaking to Prima magazine, Ballas confirmed she would fly to America to judge the Halloween edition of the US series before returning to the UK. "It's double duty this year," she stated. "That was a job I've always wanted. It's been on my wish list." Despite the logistical challenge, she insisted she would not abandon her role at the BBC, having joined the panel in 2017.

The speculation arises as contracts for all four judges, including Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke, are set to expire this year. Sources cited by the Daily Mail ^[2] suggest that while insiders previously warned any of them could walk away, budget cuts at the corporation make pay rises unlikely, fueling uncertainty. However, Ballas’s stance appears firm, even as her son Mark, a professional dancer on DWTS, resides in the US.

Beyond her career, Ballas addressed her personal life, ruling out any prospect of marriage following the end of her engagement to Danny Taylor in 2024. "At this time of life, I've got no desire to get married. I don't want to answer to anybody," she said. This statement follows recent sightings of her with Italian dancer Giuseppe Nonnis, 36, though she has vowed to keep future relationships private to avoid judgment.

Ballas’s tenure has not been without controversy, having faced allegations of harsh scoring and favouritism. Earlier this year, she received a dressing-down from BBC executives for using Strictly branding on an MSC Cruises voyage without permission, according to the Daily Mail ^[1]. Yet, with her US debut imminent and her contract status unresolved, her message to fans and critics alike is clear: she is here to stay, at least for now.