Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has revealed how she had to change one thing after her son was left shocked after watching her on the show for the first time in 2017.
Speaking to Platinum magazine, the popular Strictly star shared how she had to change her ‘attitude’ after her son was left “shocked” when she first appeared on the panel of the hit celebrity dancing competition seven years ago.
She revealed: “I started very strict and firm and my son was shocked when he first watched in 2017. So, over the years I’ve learnt to remove the walls I put up around me,” reports Lancs Live.
While the Wallasey-born dancer admitted to having a “very strict and firm” presence on the show when she first replaced the late Len Goodman, she has now drastically changed her style. She added: “I’ve let the audience in and I’d like to think they see I can deliver my critiques with a twinkle in my eye.”
Shirley has appeared on Strictly’s judges panel for the last seven series -Credit:Getty Images
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With the show taking up most of the 64-year-old’s packed schedule, she sung the praises of the BBC show as she praised its ability to enable her to dedicate time to another line of work that is close to her heart: “Professionally, Strictly has given me an enormous platform for my charity work. I devote 40 per cent of my time to my charities and wouldn’t be able to do this if I didn’t have Strictly.”
Having become a grandmother last year after her son Mark and his wife Jean welcomed their first child, Banksi, she shared how the 38-year-old prefers watching one of her Strictly colleagues over her. Shirley explained to Heat magazine: “But I have to say, I said to my son Mark, who lives in LA, ‘There are lots of ladies to choose from’, and he goes, ‘Mum, don’t be offended, but it’s Claudia Winkleman!’ Our Claude is a huge success on the other side of the Atlantic.”
After the 22nd series of Strictly came to a conclusion last week when fellow Merseyside-born Chris McCausland and his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell were crowned winners, it also marked the seventh series that Shirley has been a part of the show. Before joining the famous panel of judges, Shirley had forged a highly successful dancing career having picked up the top prize at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 1983.
