Strictly Come Dancing insiders have claimed that Shirley Ballas may not return to the BBC judging panel next year. The head judge joined the show in 2017 following the late Len Goodman's departure, but now it seems the Queen of Latin could leave the contest.
According to MailOnline, show contracts for all four judges, including Shirley, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke, will be up for review and will expire at the end of the 2026 season.
Contract uncertainty for judges
An insider told the publication: "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. But anything could happen. Any of them could walk away now, and they will be free agents."
The source claimed: "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."
Shirley's appearance on rival show
Speculation over Shirley’s Strictly future comes after the ballroom icon made an appearance on a rival show, Dancing With the Stars.
Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro aired across the summer and saw champions from the world of dance audition for a chance to win a place as a professional dance partner on the upcoming series of the main show. Shirley was on the judging panel alongside her son, Mark Ballas, who is also a professional dancer and has won Dancing With The Stars three times.
Former Strictly pro AJ Pritchard appeared on the stateside series but sadly just missed out, finishing runner-up to Adele Zaikman.
Fan reactions
After Shirley's appearance on the American spin-off, DWTS viewers have called for her to become a regular on the panel. Taking to X/Twitter, one fan penned: "#DWTS is it too late to start a petition to replace CAI for Shirley Ballas as a judge?"
Another remarked: "This will probably be Shirley’s last series at Strictly then. She’ll probably want to spend more time with her son in America and will probably enjoy the American lifestyle over the British."
As one heartbroken viewer exclaimed: "NOOOOOOO!" A fourth questioned: "So she’s doing what Bruno and Len used to do? Fly between the USA and the UK?"
"Of course, that's something she's jumping at. Not only is it more money and more exposure, but she'll get to see her son and grandchild every week," claimed a BBC fan.
The Daily Express has contacted Shirley Ballas and the BBC for comment.
