Shirley Ballas’s future on Strictly Come Dancing has come under fresh scrutiny as the head judge continues to be the victim of trolling during her eight years on the show.
The 65-year-old continues to face calls for her removal each series, despite the BBC making changes to protect her from online abuse.
Ballas has been at the centre of viewer backlash since joining the judging panel in 2017, often facing criticism for her scoring and decisions in the dance-off.
At one point, viewers launched a petition calling for her to be axed.
In a bid to ease the pressure trolls, producers quietly tweaked the show’s format this year.
Instead of Ballas always delivering the deciding vote in the dance-off, the responsibility now rotates between the four judges — Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood — to dilute the blame.
However, the adjustment appears to have done little to deter her harshest critics and has not been enough to change some viewers’ minds.
“Shirley certainly won't be leaving Strictly over the opinions of online trolls,” an insider told the Daily Mail.
“She knows what she's talking about and always stands by every decision she makes.”
The abuse got so bad at one point that Ballas revealed in 2023 that she became afraid to leave her home due to the threats and violent messages she received.
Speaking to Olivia Attwood on her ITV documentary on trolling, she shared: “I’ve had people draw coffins with me in it with somebody with a spade that said, ‘Die, you b****’.
“I never relax. It has changed my life completely, I would say.”
But the former professional dancer has stood firm in defence of her critics and last year said: “I judge without fear or favour.
“I'm just someone who sits in that chair as head judge to stay in my lane and judge the dancing – legs, feet, body coordination, synchronisation and chemistry between the leader and the follower.”
Calling Strictly “the light of my life”, Ballas has made clear she intends to stay in the role, previously stating “as long as the BBC would like to have me.”
Ballas aside the show is undergoing change at the end of this season after long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departure from the BBC stalwart after 21 years.
