Strictly Come Dancing's head judge, Shirley Ballas, has shared a harrowing account of a backstage medical emergency that left her unable to breathe just moments before she was due on air.
A Terrifying Backstage Ordeal
The incident occurred over the weekend as the show prepared for its iconic Blackpool special. Ballas revealed she was eating fish when a fishbone became lodged in her throat, causing her to choke severely.
In a video message to her followers, the judge explained the gravity of the situation. "I choked on a fishbone," she said. "It got lodged in my throat, and my wonderful Jane, who has been with me for nine years, did the Heimlich manoeuvre, and we got the bone out. But for 20 minutes there, it was lodged and I couldn't breathe, so it was terrifying."
Health Update on It Takes Two
Appearing on the BBC's companion show It Takes Two with host Fleur East, Ballas provided an update on her condition. She confirmed the details of the scare, stating, "I was having my fish and the bone of the fish got lodged in my throat. It all closed off and I couldn't breathe at all."
The aftermath of the incident is still being felt. Ballas admitted that her voice was affected and that her throat remains injured. "I couldn't project very far with my voice," she told East. "Even now, it's scratched all the inside because we think the bone went down. The last two days, it's been a bit sore and scary - but tonight, it's been a bit better."
Blackpool Welcomes Returning Stars
The dramatic personal incident unfolded against the backdrop of Strictly's celebrated trip to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The event was made even more special by the return of several famous former contestants for a spectacular group dance.
The returning alumni included:
- Ashley Roberts, who expressed her excitement about being back on the "shiny floor".
- Danny Mac, who called dancing in Blackpool a previous highlight of his Strictly experience.
- Layton Williams, who said he was "buzzing" to be back on the iconic dancefloor.
- Jay McGuinness, who felt "extremely lucky" to be shaking his booty with the Strictly gang again.
Looking ahead, the competition is set to intensify with the introduction of the Instant Dance challenge. Judge Ballas has warned that this element, where couples have just ten seconds to prepare after hearing their music, "has the power to change everything" and will challenge the remaining celebrities like never before.
