Why HAS Darcey waltzed off Strictly?
Bussell stuns fans as she quits as judge — but who will fill her shoes?
AFTER seven years as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, Dame Darcey Bussell announced yesterday that she is waltzing away from Britain’s biggest entertainment show.
The former prima ballerina, 49, said she is leaving the programme to focus on ‘other commitments in dance’.
She said it has been ‘a complete privilege’ to have been on the show and worked ‘with such a talented team’.
The mother- of-two, who turns 50 later this month, added: ‘I have enjoyed every minute of my time and will miss everyone from my fellow judges, the presenters, the dancers, the musicians, the entire backstage team, and especially the viewers of the show, who have been so supportive.’
It comes a year after she was forced to deny rumours of a rift with head judge Shirley Ballas.
Appearing to address this in her statement yesterday, she said: ‘I am not leaving because of any upset or disagreement at all, I am just stepping away to give more focus to my many other commitments in dance, after seven truly wonderful years.
‘I know I will miss being part of this unique show and the fact that it celebrates dance is something I am so passionate about. I hope that I may be very lucky to be asked back again one day.’
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph last year, Dame Darcey hit back at claims they did not get on, claiming she finds her ‘hysterical’. She added: ‘I totally respect her amazing amount of knowledge. She’s great to be with.’
Meanwhile, Miss Ballas, 58, who took over from Len Goodman in 2017, previously acknowledged their differences. ‘Our backgrounds are worlds apart. I come from a housing estate, the underprivileged if you like, and she comes from privilege,’ Miss Ballas said. ‘ But her persona and lovely attitude work well with mine. I just want to cuddle her all the time.’
And after Darcey announced her departure, Miss Ballas tweeted: ‘We’ve had the most laughs and fun times on the show. Today is certainly the end of an era.
‘Thank you for holding my hand all the way and being such an incredible friend. You were my rock when I was new to the show and have always been so kind.’
A BBC insider said Strictly is a ‘mammoth ask’ which ‘takes over your life for four or five months every year and she wants to focus on other things’.
Dame Darcey, who has been married to Angus Forbes for 22 years, was a guest judge on the programme in 2009 and joined the panel permanently in 2012. It is not known who will replace her and join Miss Ballas, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood, but former Strictly champion Karen Hardy is the bookie’s favourite with odds of 2-1. A friend of the dancer, who won the show with Mark Ramprakash in 2006, told the Daily Mail he ‘could see her in the role’. Meanwhile, Helen Richey, a judge on Australia’s Dancing With The Stars, has been given odds of 3-1. Strictly host Claudia Winkleman tweeted: ‘We love you Darcey. You’ll be so so missed. Xx’, while fellow judge Tonioli said: ‘My darling . . . I will miss you so much, your knowledge, beauty, talent ,charm and elegance makes you a true national treasure. I will treasure all the time we spent together on and off screen.’
Strictly professional dancer Pasha Kovalev will also be missing from this year’s show, after announcing in February that he was leaving after eight series.
‘I am not leaving because of any upset’