Ahead of the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, reports have surfaced suggesting that judge Shirley Ballas shares a personal connection with contestant Dani Dyer, prompting concerns over whether she could have a “soft spot” for the star.
The pair first met in 2019 when they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro together to raise money for Comic Relief. A source has claimed that during the climb, Ballas took on an almost maternal role towards Dyer, raising questions about her ability to remain impartial when judging the contestant's performances.
Bond formed on Kilimanjaro climb
“Shirley and Dani have been through a tough experience together, which bonded them for life,” an insider said. “Shirley was like a second mother to Dani during that trip and they spent quality time together.”
The source added: “Some pro dancers are worried that Shirley will favour Dani and be less tough on her because of their shared history. Of course, Shirley is a professional but it is hard to be objective when you have a genuine soft spot for someone.”
However, the insider noted that Ballas previously hiked with Dan Walker and was able to judge him objectively, even voting him out in the dance off.
Dani Dyer's return to the dancefloor
Dyer, 30, was due to appear on last year's series alongside Nikita Kuzmin but was forced to withdraw days before the live shows after suffering an injury during training. At the time, she said: “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny. I thought I had rolled my foot, but it swelled up badly over the weekend. After an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle. Apparently, doing the quickstep on a fracture is not advisable, and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show.”
She added: “To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita, but of course, I will be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”
Dyer has now been given the opportunity to return to the dancefloor, joining fellow celebrities Lacey Turner, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer, Will Best, Dame Sarah Storey, Jaime Winstone, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb, Tabby Stoecker, John Nellis and Melanie Walters.
The 2026 series will be presented by Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, following the exits of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The judging panel remains familiar, with Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke all returning.
