Shirley Ballas addresses Strictly exit rumours after emotional tribute leaves her fighting tears
Shirley was taken aback by a surprise montage on It Takes TwoShirley Ballas has addressed rumours she could be leaving Strictly Come Dancing after an emotional tribute left her fighting back tears.
The 66-year-old appeared on BBC’s It Takes Two on Wednesday (November 11), where she was surprised with a special tribute celebrating her 10 years as head judge.
Her recent Dancing With The Stars guest judging role had sparked speculation about a permanent move to the US show.
But Shirley made her Strictly future clear during her conversation with host Ellie Taylor. She said: “I adore the show, I will be loyal to the show until the day they kick me off it!”
She had previously dismissed the exit rumours in an October interview with Prima, saying: “It’s double duty this year. That was a job I’ve always wanted. It’s been on my wishlist.”
She added: “But I’m 100% not leaving Strictly!”
Shirley Ballas fights back tears over son Mark’s Strictly tribute on It Takes Two
Shirley was left emotional when It Takes Two aired a surprise montage celebrating her decade on Strictly Come Dancing.
The video featured fellow judges Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse, alongside professional dancers Katya Jones and Dianne Buswell.
Her son Mark Ballas, a Dancing With The Stars professional, also delivered a heartfelt message from the show’s Los Angeles studio.
He said: “Congratulations mum, I’m so proud of you, I love you, enjoy. Happy ten years.”
An emotional Shirley admitted she hadn’t expected to see him.
She gushed: “Amazing, I wasn’t expecting to see my son on that, to be perfectly honest.”
She also praised the celebrities who take part in Strictly, highlighting the demands of the competition from the launch show onwards.
When is Strictly Come Dancing on TV?
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
It Takes Two airs weekdays at 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2026 fans slam Shirley Ballas’ treatment of Lacey Turner
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday, November 14, at 6.25pm.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
