Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas was emotional as she shared 'heart-breaking' family news.
The BBC dance show's head judge updated fans from backstage in panto after the triumphant Strictly final on Saturday night.
Dance champ Shirley, nicknamed the 'Queen of Latin', is starring in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
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She posted a video from her dressing room on Instagram in which she confessed to feeling 'crushed' as coronavirus restrictions prevent her from being able to travel to see her dancer and musician son Mark who lives in Los Angeles.
She told her fans: "A mother's emotional day. Lots going on.
"Missing my boy more than ever @markballas.
"As a mother I always took for granted I could fly to see him. Over the last two years, when told to lockdown it becomes so much more difficult to plan.
"Now with the new variant we are on high alert it seems again. So all travel for the foreseeable future for me is out.
"Heart breaking because I kept the thought of seeing him in March so close to my heart and now it may not happen.
"I’m a little crushed today to say the least, always strong and upbeat for others but with the last few years we have all had and now the New Variant it will take massive strength to overcome my feelings.
"But today I’ll go with the emotions and let them out, and hoping for all my friends out there you will soon be reunited with your loved ones at home and abroad."
Shirley, who is in panto in Tunbridge Wells, signed off by sending love to her fans and said in the video that she would try not to cry as she asked them to share their own stories about their loved ones.
"I’ve posted a pic of Mark and I and a hug I took for granted. Holding on tight for the next one. Sending love to all today and I’ll be gathering strength from you xxx #family #son #sad #friends," she wrote.
