Strictly's Shirley Ballas 'lost for words' amid eye-opening show first
Shirley Ballas has witness all manner of celebrities perform all manner of dances since she joined Strictly Come Dancing as head judge back in 2017. In a wide-ranging exclusive chat with OK! during a break from filming this year's series, the head judge reveals which celebrity performance left her lost for words - for the first time in her life.
While she heaps praise on former soap star Kelvin Fletcher, who left audiences open mouthed and rather hot under the collar when he performed an incredible week one Samba with Oti Mabuse in the in 2019, she reveals that it was a rather less points-worthy performance by a now infamous contestant that really took her breath away - Ann Widdecombe.
Politician Ann appeared on the series in 2010 and was paired up with professional-turned-judge Anton Du Beke. After delivering what remain some of the BBC series' most talked-about performances, it was their Blackpool night Samba - with the pair dresses in sparkling canary yellow - that really stole the show.
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“Ann Widdecombe, who I love, because she was at my first interview when I went to get the job," she revealed. "They told me, ‘You’ve got 15 seconds to comment on the people that will flash up on the screen.’ Then Ann Widdecombe flashed up and she was cleaning the floor in a yellow dress. I was lost for words, it was the first time in my life I’ve been tongue-tied!"
But when it comes to the higher-scoring performances, former Emmerdale star Kelvin dancing in his ready-to-burst-at-the-buttons shirt during week one of series 17 remains a stand-out show for Shirley. Kelvin eventually went on to win lift the glitterball with Oti after beating EastEnders' actress Emma Barton and Anton, and CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden in the tense final.
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"He wasn’t supposed to be on the show but I think Jamie Laing had hurt his foot at the last minute, so Kelvin stepped in at the last minute and danced the samba… I’ve never seen a man dance a samba like that in my entire life!".
Shirley says that despite the fact she's head judge and responsible for sending a celebrity home every week, she doesn't feel pressured to do her job. "I don’t feel any pressure when I’m on Strictly because, let’s say if they didn’t renew my contract and I wasn’t on it next year, I would be so eternally grateful for the eight series that I’ve had,” she says.
“I have experienced nothing but beautiful souls who have always been there for me in dark times, when it comes to the social media or press or whatever. I’ve got memories to take with me and that’s what life’s about. Life is about building those memories and Strictly Come Dancing has definitely given me those.”
