Shirley Ballas Fuels Strictly Come Dancing Exit Rumours with US Job Offer
Speculation is mounting that Shirley Ballas, the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing, could be preparing to leave the beloved BBC programme after reportedly landing a significant new position in the United States. The 65-year-old dance expert, who joined the show in 2017, is said to be in advanced discussions to serve as a judge on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, an upcoming spin-off of the American version of Strictly.
Potential Move to US Television
According to industry reports from Deadline, the new US show will focus on finding a fresh professional dancer to join the Dancing with the Stars cast. Ballas is reportedly being considered for a panel role alongside her son, Mark Ballas, a professional dancer who has appeared in 21 series of the American programme. The hosting duties for the spin-off are slated to be handled by Robert Irwin, the 2025 winner of Dancing with the Stars.
The timing of this potential opportunity has raised eyebrows among fans, as the show is expected to air during the summer months when critical preparation for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing typically takes place. This scheduling conflict has led to widespread conjecture about Ballas's future with the BBC flagship programme.
Fan Reactions and Concerns
The news has triggered considerable discussion among dedicated viewers of Strictly Come Dancing, with many expressing concern about the potential loss of another key figure from the show. Following the recent announcement that hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be departing, Ballas's possible exit has amplified worries about the programme's future direction.
On social media platforms like Reddit, fans have been vocal about their reactions. One observer commented that the development is "very interesting" and speculated that Ballas might be "considering leaving Strictly for the DWTS main show." Another fan expressed deeper apprehension, stating: "With Tess and Claudia leaving and now Shirley heading somewhere else, I'm afraid this may be the start of the end." Many supporters have simply pleaded: "Hope she isn't leaving!"
Background and Previous Struggles
Shirley Ballas joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, taking over the head judge position from Len Goodman, who had held the role since the programme's inception in 2004. As a former world champion professional dancer, Ballas brought considerable expertise to the panel. However, she has been remarkably open about the significant personal toll that judging the high-profile show has taken on her mental wellbeing.
The head judge traditionally holds the deciding vote when a dance-off results in a deadlock, a responsibility that has frequently made Ballas a target for intense criticism and online abuse. In 2023, she revealed that the relentless trolling nearly drove her to quit the programme altogether. Ballas described receiving vicious messages that attacked her appearance and made unfounded accusations about her biases.
"Some of the messages were so cruel," Ballas explained. "Just, how ugly you are and how fat you are, and how you've got horrible arms, and, 'You don't like men. You don't like women. You don't like Black men. You don't like Black women.' And then once it starts steamrolling, it goes even further."
Recent Changes and Continued Criticism
For the 2025 series, Strictly Come Dancing producers implemented a new system where the deciding vote in dance-offs rotated among the judges each week, rather than resting solely with the head judge. Despite this adjustment, Ballas found herself facing particularly harsh criticism when series favourite Lewis Cope was eliminated during the quarter-finals.
Although all judges unanimously voted to save Amber Davies in that dance-off, Ballas was singled out for blame after commenting during the live show that Cope's performance "wasn't your best day." She noted that fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood had made similar remarks and awarded a lower score, yet she bore the brunt of viewer anger.
"After his dance, I just said: 'It wasn't your best day' – which it wasn't," Ballas told The i newspaper. "Then they went to Craig, who said the same thing. He scored him an eight, I gave him a nine, but I was blamed for him going home. I think it is disgraceful that somebody would write that."
Representatives for both Shirley Ballas and the BBC have been approached for comment regarding the current speculation about her potential departure. The uncertainty surrounding Ballas's future comes at a transitional period for Strictly Come Dancing, with fans eagerly awaiting official announcements about the upcoming series.
