Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has reportedly found herself in the doghouse with BBC bosses after breaking the show's rules. Shirley, 65, has served on the judges' panel since 2017, making her one of the longest-serving behind Craig Revel Horwood. The dancer and television personality may be Strictly royalty, but she is said to have learned the hard way that the rules still apply.
She is believed to have earned BBC bosses' ire after participating in a luxury cruise programme that riffed on the popular dance competition. According to the Daily Mail, Shirley was paid £10,000 to join a Strictly-themed adventure with MSC Cruises, where she held up a distinctive scoring paddle and critiqued contestants' footwork.
BBC Furious Over Unauthorised Cruise
An insider claimed that the BBC are absolutely furious at the judge for her participation in the unauthorised cruise. They continued: 'Shirley should not have done what she did – it has enraged the bosses. She was hauled before the chiefs and asked to explain what happened.' Describing Strictly as the broadcaster's crown jewel, the insider said that they would do whatever is available to them to protect it.
The Mail also reported that the BBC had been in touch with MSC Cruises about their theming of the trip. Travelling from Southampton to Norway, the Strictly-style holiday featured a dance masterclass, Q&A with Shirley, and a meet-and-greet. 'It is baffling how a multi-million pound company with its own legal team did not think of the repercussions for using the Strictly branding without prior permission from the BBC,' added the tabloid's source.
BBC Statement on IP Use
A spokesperson for the BBC told Metro: 'Certain use of programme IP without permission risks confusing audiences – and may give the impression that the BBC has endorsed activity when it hasn't. Where we identify such use, appropriate steps are taken to prevent it happening again. Any profit generated from the approved commercial use of our IP is reinvested into the BBC, supporting high-quality content for licence fee payers.'
Regarding Shirley's participation in the cruise, the statement read: 'We have clear guidelines around an individual's commercial activities while working with the BBC, and they are regularly reminded of these guidelines.'
Cruise Promotion and Passenger Reactions
A promotional Instagram post from Cruise.co.uk wrote of how 'Shirley Ballas brings Strictly Glamour to MSC Cruises.' It continued: 'Shirley Ballas to lead a dance extravaganza at sea with MSC Cruises. Dance fans can twirl and shimmy while cruising the stunning Norwegian Fjords aboard MSC Virtuosa.' Speaking to The Mail in May, one passenger described the experience as 'like watching an episode of Strictly,' adding that 'there were so many similarities.'
As for MSC Cruises, a press release on the company's website has now been removed. The Mail also claims that Shirley was given a luxury suite aboard the ship for free.
BBC Guidelines and Previous Breaches
The BBC's editorial guidelines state that promotional work involving licence fee-funded talent must not 'imitate, suggest a reference or connection to or pass off BBC content.' This includes 'replicating any editorial elements of a programme' and stresses that BBC endorsement must not be suggested. These rules previously landed DIY SOS star Nick Knowles in hot water, back in 2021, when he appeared in a Shreddies advert while dressed as a builder. This was deemed by the BBC to have been a breach of contract, leading to fears that he might be fired for his actions. However, a later statement from the BBC said that the situation had been 'resolved,' and the TV builder returned to work soon after.
Metro has reached out to Shirley Ballas's reps for comment.
