Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has contacted new panel sidekick Motsi Mabuse, telling her: “I’ve got your back.”
Shirley, 58, who struggled to cope after replacing Len Goodman in 2017, called Motsi, 38, after it was announced she would replace Darcey Bussell, 50.
A source said: “Shirley knows first hand how daunting it can be joining the show. She faced a lot of criticism when she replaced head judge Len Goodman.
“She was completely unprepared for the huge level of attention. She seemed overwhelmed for pretty much the whole of her first series and she doesn’t want Motsi to go through something similar.
“Shirley has made a point of reaching out to Motsi, welcoming her to the show and offering any help or support.”
After the appointment, choreographer Louie Spence accused the BBC of choosing Motsi, the sister of Strictly professional dancer Oti Mabuse, to “tick the box for the diversity”.
He said: “She isn’t a celebrity. I don’t understand – unless it was because they wanted another woman on the panel.
“Also, they’ve got somebody of colour, which is being diverse. They like to tick every box.”
But the BBC hit back, issuing a statement which said: “Motsi got the job because she was the best candidate.
“Any suggestion to the contrary is completely wrong and insulting.”
South African Motsi, who rose to fame on Let’s Dance, Germany’s Strictly, is married with a daughter of 11 months.
She will sit on the panel with Shirley, Craig Revel Horwood, and Bruno Tonioli.
On her new role, she said: “I am absolutely overjoyed. I have so much respect and admiration for the other judges and hope to add my own bit of sparkle to the show. I can’t wait to get started.”
