Shirley Ballas could be preparing to step away from Strictly Come Dancing after nearly a decade as head judge.
Sources say the 65-year-old ballroom champion is set to travel to the United States to take part in a new Dancing With The Stars spin-off programme, where she would appear alongside her son Mark, who has worked as a professional dancer on the American show for two decades.
It is believed that the mother-and-son duo will serve as judges on the reality competition, which aims to discover fresh professional talent for the upcoming DWTS season.
According to reports first shared by the RealitySteve account on X, Robert Irwin, who claimed victory in the most recent series of Dancing With The Stars, will present the new programme.
Shirley Ballas is best known for her role on Strictly Come Dancing | BBC
The account posted: “I know people were hoping for a DWTS-pro show for today’s announcement. I can confirm it’s happening. Robert Irwin is hosting, 2 of the judges are Mark Ballas and his mom, and the winner will be a pro on next season of DWTS. Announcement is coming soon.”
ABC is expected to formally unveil the spin-off imminently, though precise filming dates remain unclear.
Viewers have responded with concern to the reports, with many fearing the BBC programme could be facing further turbulence.
One fan wrote on Reddit: “VERY interesting, makes me wonder if she’s considering leaving Strictly for the DWTS main show!”
Ms Ballas joined Strictly in 2017
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Another commented: “I don’t think she will leave Strictly unless they both are clashing!”
One fan took to X to express excitement at the prospect of Ms Ballas joining DWTS. “I love this for Shirley, maybe now there will be some strict consistency on the ballroom basics,” she wrote.
A second penned: “HELL YEAH!”
The timing has only added to speculation, coming after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman confirmed late last year that they would be stepping down after more than 20 years fronting the Saturday night favourite.
Ms Ballas son, Mark, has worked as a professional dancer on the American show for two decades
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They announced their departure in a joint video shared on social media, later bowing out during the 2025 Christmas Special. The pair said it felt like the “right time” to “pass over the baton”.
Reflecting on their time on the show, they noted they had started when their children were “babies in arms”, and joked that they were now looking forward to saying “keep dancing” from the comfort of their sofa in “tracksuit bottoms”.
Although no detailed reason was given, the duo had long spoken about a “pact over pizza” to leave the programme together once they felt their journey had run its course.
Since both Strictly and Dancing With The Stars typically broadcast between September and December, Ms Ballas may face a difficult scheduling decision if she commits to the American project.
Should Ms Ballas choose to pursue the American opportunity, she would follow a path trodden by previous Strictly judges, including the late Len Goodman, whom she replaced on the BBC panel, and Bruno Tonioli, who has been part of DWTS since its 2005 launch.
Meanwhile, the identity of Strictly’s new presenters remains unconfirmed, though reports indicate the race has narrowed to Zoe Ball and Emma Willis.
Robert Irwin, who claimed victory in the most recent series of Dancing With The Stars, will allegedly present the new programme
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Dancing With The Stars
Sources suggest BBC executives are seeking a traditional presenter paired with a more unconventional choice, potentially a female comedian.
GB News has contacted Ms Ballas’s representatives for comment regarding the reports.
