Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly preparing for the possibility that the show could lose its judging panel, according to a source cited by the Daily Mail.
The BBC show recently returned for a new series with a new hosting trio – Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe – replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. It also lost several professional dancers, including Karen Hauer, the longest-serving female pro at 14 years, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas, in a major line-up refresh.
The judges – Craig Revel Horwood, 61, Motsi Mabuse, 45, Shirley Ballas, 66, and Anton Du Beke, 60 – have been a constant throughout the changes. But with their contracts up for renewal, producers are said to be fearing the worst.
Contract fears and free agents
A source told the Daily Mail: 'The one thing that the BBC knew would keep some continuity this year was that the judges would all be back. They are under contract so that was a guarantee for the bosses and was definitely one less headache for them.'
However, the expiration of the contracts has producers fearing that 'anything could happen,' and that anyone who wanted to walk away would be 'free agents.' The source added: 'The most likely is Shirley. She has done a decade now and she has grandchildren that she wants to see more of.'
'The terms of their contracts will have to be renegotiated, and if the judges don't like what the BBC is offering maybe they won't return. It will all be very up in the air in December once this run is over,' the insider continued.
Shirley Ballas speculation
Craig Revel Horwood is the longest-serving judge, having joined the show upon its debut in 2004. Shirley Ballas joined in 2017, replacing Len Goodman. She is rumoured to be considering an exit due to family commitments, following speculation that she wants to spend more time with her son Mark Ballas, 40, a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars, and his two children.
She has also been 'growing close' to Italian dancer Giuseppe Nonnis, 36, which has sparked backlash in certain corners of the dance community. She judged at an international dance competition where Giuseppe competed, raising eyebrows with her scoring of him. It was later determined that no rules had been broken, and Giuseppe and partner Lela finished in ninth place.
The pair's close friendship has sparked rumours of romance, with Giuseppe's ex-fiancée, Daria Chesnokova, describing it as the 'ultimate betrayal.' The couple had been engaged since 2021 until they split last year.
'I don't want her to take my man,' said Dasha, who had been engaged to Giuseppe since 2021. 'Shirley was my mentor for nearly two decades. I have looked up to her for years. And I introduced her to Giuseppe. If they were together, I would be so hurt.' She described Shirley as 'like a dance mum to me', likening their potential relationship to 'your mum taking your boyfriend.'
Shirley has been single since her split from fiancé Danny Taylor in 2024.
Craig Revel Horwood's retirement hints
Neither Shirley nor the other judges have indicated plans to leave the show soon. However, Craig hinted at his future on an episode of his podcast Judgemental, saying: 'I've got to be honest I've judging my life in showbusiness and whether I should carry on or not. It's a serious thought.'
'Now I've been asking myself do I want to remain in showbusiness or would I like to retire and go somewhere quiet out of the public eye? I've just been contemplating so I've been questioning it,' he added.
Craig had previously indicated he would give up showbiz once he turned 50 – although he has now set a hard limit of 70. 'My thoughts were I would retire at 50, so now I've changed the goal post to 70. I tend to work 10 years in advance. I don't think I'll ever leave it but I used to love the times before I was known to the public,' he said. 'I have been seriously contemplating when the best time is to do it because it will be an inevitability.'
Metro has contacted the BBC for comment on this story.
