‘HATERS’ HELL FOR SHIRLEY

Judge targeted by trolls but babe’s busting to win

STRICTLY judge Shirley Ballas has become the target of sick abuse from online trolls.

Twisted viewers have turned against the new head judge and started taunting her with nasty messages.

And Shirley, 57, admits the nastiness has left her shocked.

She told the Daily Star Sunday: “I’d never done Twitter or Instagram before.

“But since joining

Strictly I do look at comments online, and I have a nice following.

“And I like constructive criticism. If I get that I have a think about it.

“But some can be mean – so I just block them. If they’re awfully mean, that’s what I do. Some people are inappropriate. I don’t want to say what they say. I won’t go there. But some people are just inappropriate.”

Shirley hinted many of the messages are sexist taunts which would never be sent to a male judge.

Asked if they crossed the line she said: “Perhaps…perhaps.”

One viewer branded Shirley a “useless little bitch” while another claimed she has “a s*** personality”.

Another cruel post said she “needs a slap” and one read

“f*** off Shirley Ballas”.

But defiant Shirley is refusing to quit social media over the nastiness – because she is determined to stay in contact with other viewers.

She said: “People make an effort to watch the show and then go online. So I like to respond in some way.”

Shirley believes her toughest critic is actually her mum, Audrey, who watches the show every Saturday night. She said: “My mother keeps me in check with a slap every Sunday morning. She’ll say, ‘What were you wearing?’, and things like that. “I come from the north and we have to stay grounded in the north of England.” Shirley was hired to replace Len Goodman, 73, who had been head judge for 13 years.

The Merseysideborn star admitted she has felt enormous pressure to win over the show’s 12million viewers.

She said: “It was a little overwhelming at the beginning. Now I’m getting used to it.

“But I do still get nervous before each show. I always get a bit queasy in my tummy. But I think they’re good nerves. So far Strictly has been fantastic. I’m really enjoying it.”

Shirley is already known for her no-nonsense approach when dishing out criticism.

She clashed with professional dancer Brendan Cole when he questioned her critique earlier in the series.

But she has hit back at claims she is too tough on contestants. She said: “I think it’s unfair to say that I’m mean. I think I’m constructive. “I’ve done everything in my life with a good heart. I’m there to do my job and do it to the best of my ability.”