DANCING QUEEN
HEAD JUDGE SHIRLEY BALLAS OFFERS THIS YEAR’S CONTESTANTS A FEW TIPS…
All 15 Strictly stars for this year’s series have now been confirmed, and we can’t wait to see them in action! (We shouldn’t have favourites, obviously, but we’re very excited for Faye Tozer, Dr Ranj Singh and Kate Silverton.) But as the saying goes, it takes two to tango
– or foxtrot, or waltz – so they’ll need a professional to guide them, and this Saturday we’ll find out who their partners will be. We asked head judge Shirley Ballas what she’s looking for from this year’s celebrities…
What do you make of this year’s line up?
I don’t think the BBC has really ever got it wrong, because the show has been running for so long. I think they’ve got a good mix of celebs – there are all sorts of characters in there. It’s a truly diverse group of people!
Who are you most looking forward to seeing in action?
I love to see people’s journeys, as long as they bring their work ethic. It’s going to be quite intense for them – this is the ‘glitz and glamour’ part of the show, but when we get
into it, it’s really hard work! We might start off with people doing well, but then they don’t have the endurance to carry on. I like to watch people who think, ‘I’ve got this’, and five weeks later go, “It’s exhausting!”
What advice do you have for the celebrities?
I could give all the advice in the world, but when you have to come down those stairs on live TV in front of millions of people, the butterflies start. All I can say is, enjoy the moment because it will go by in the blink of an eye. Take as much instruction as you can from your partner, really listen to the critiques of the judges, and really dedicate your time to it.
Will we see you dancing on the show this year?
Ooh, give me a chance! My foxtrot with Anton Du Beke – that’s on my bucket list…