Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has spoken about the challenges of caring for her 88-year-old mother Audrey, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The 65-year-old, who is returning to the BBC show this autumn, described COPD as a 'slow digression' and a 'slow death'.
Ballas, an ambassador for Asthma & Lung UK, revealed that her mother smoked for most of her life and continues to do so despite the health risks. 'Nobody will stop her smoking now,' she said. 'She's nearly 90. She's going to have a whisky and a smoke and she knows what comes with it.' Ballas noted that her mother only stopped for 18 months after the death of her son David in 2003.
The dancer lives with Audrey in London and described the constant worry of managing her condition. 'If she gets a cold it can turn into pneumonia. It's a 24/7 worry,' she said, comparing the vigilance required to pandemic precautions. 'People don't have a clue what it takes even to care for someone with COPD.'
Ballas also expressed her excitement about the upcoming series of Strictly, calling it 'a rebirth, a relaunch'. She dismissed speculation about new hosts and professional dancers, saying gossip is part of human nature. Additionally, she will join her son Mark, a Broadway performer, to judge Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro in the US this July.
She used the platform to call for more government funding for NHS research into lung disease. 'COPD patients are costing the NHS, they're taking a bed. But if they're diagnosed and monitored, there would be less going to A&E. COPD takes away the quality of life and care is a bit of a postcode lottery.'
