Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has spoken candidly about her mother's struggle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), describing the condition as 'debilitating' and admitting 'it's never going to get better'. The 65-year-old star appeared on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday to raise awareness of the illness, which affects her 88-year-old mother Audrey Rich.
Shirley revealed that her mother was diagnosed with COPD in 2022 but had been suffering for many years prior. She explained that doctors described the condition as 'like a balloon' where 'all the little hairs on the lungs were all gone', leaving her mother at high risk of serious complications from flu or pneumonia.
The dancer has joined forces with healthcare company Sanofi to encourage COPD sufferers to remain physically and socially active. She stressed the importance of raising awareness, noting that many people across the country do not receive adequate care or even know they have the disease.
Shirley shared emotional details of her mother's daily struggles, including episodes of choking and breathlessness. 'To see her getting older and struggling with COPD is not the most pleasant thing to watch,' she said, adding that her mother often feels embarrassed and now only goes out once a week.
Despite her mother's reluctance to discuss her condition, Shirley said she felt it was important to speak out to help others. 'We need to help people out there who are struggling and suffering to get the right care,' she urged.
