Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has shared a heartfelt update with her followers after a frightening accident at home resulted in a hospital visit.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The 65-year-old BBC star explained that she suffered a fall at her home, hitting her head on a glass dressing table. The impact was severe enough to necessitate a trip to hospital for a brain scan. Ballas expressed immense relief that the scan revealed she had not fractured her skull, and she was quick to thank fans for their concern during the initial scare.
Providing more context, Ballas revealed the accident occurred as she was preparing to leave for a physiotherapy appointment. She described sitting on a stool with a cushion, which then slipped out from under her, causing the fall. "I'm going to send a demonstration on what exactly happened," she told her Instagram audience. "We need to be careful. I had a little cushion on there and I slipped off it."
Road to Recovery and Medical Advice
In a series of Instagram Stories posted on 18 January 2026, Ballas gave a candid account of her pain levels following the tumble. "The spine, the back, the lower back, the knee, the ankle, everything hurts," she admitted. Following her hospital assessment, she proceeded to her scheduled osteopath appointment to have her spine and injuries thoroughly checked.
The medical advice was clear: complete rest is essential. Ballas stated that her osteopath has instructed her to rest up for the next three days to aid her recovery. "Hopefully, I should be right as rain," she said, referencing the knee, ankle, and spinal pain resulting from the twist of her fall. "He's had a look at that and I should feel like a new woman within 72 hours."
A Message of Gratitude and Caution
The Strictly judge took time to express her deep appreciation for the National Health Service staff who treated her and the friends and fans who have supported her. "Feeling, in my head, much better today and grateful and need to rest," she shared, adding that resting is "all those things that perhaps one doesn't do because we're always running around."
Ballas concluded her update by reiterating her thanks for the flood of supportive messages and issued a cautionary note to her followers based on her own experience. Her primary focus is now on following doctor's orders and recuperating at home. Fans can catch up with her on the judging panel as episodes of Strictly Come Dancing remain available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
