Vicious backlash before massive change to Strictly Come Dancing voting rule

Strictly Come Dancing bosses hope a voting rule change will cut the online abuse directed at Shirley Ballas. Head judge Shirley will no longer have the final say in dance-offs, with the deciding vote rotating between the four judges each week.

A BBC insider confirmed: “A happy by-product of the change will mean that Shirley is subject to less vitriol." They added: “The fundamental reason behind the switch-up in the rules is to make the show more exciting but it’s fair to say that any move that lessens one judge unfairly facing abuse all the time is welcome too. Especially one as loved as Shirley.”

Shirley has spoken about the toll the abuse has taken, particularly when she is tasked with sending someone home. Speaking after Shayne Ward left in 2024, she said: “I’m pretty much unshockable now but the backlash after I eliminated Shayne Ward… took even me by surprise.” Speaking this month to the Mirror, she said: “In 2017 after we did the first series, one person made a little coffin and a stick figure with my face on and a shovel like ‘die, you b****’.”

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She continued: “Another said ‘stop showing your bingo wings.’ Another said ‘you’ve got a mole on your chin,’ which I was already sensitive to. I thought about having it taken off, and then I thought, no, it’s kind of a trademark, because my brother always used to touch it.” Shirley, 64, lost her brother David to suicide aged 44 in 2003.

As head judge, she has also frequently been accused of sexism in her judging, particularly when male contestants have been saved over female ones. In April 2023, Shirley announced she would no longer be managing her own social media accounts.

She said the constant barrage of vile messages had “chipped away at her soul,” adding: “The messages... they’re so personal. I’ve had death threats... I’m a human being.” Her experience at hands of trolls also extended to a seven-year stalking ordeal. Kyle Shaw, 37, claimed to be the biological son of David, and began hounding Shirley with twisted messages on social media. Shirley said: “I didn’t feel safe in my own home and had sleepless nights.” In April this year, Shaw was handed a 20-month suspended sentence and banned from contacting Shirley or any of her family.

The change to the rules was revealed at the end of Saturday night’s live show.The show’s stars were taken aback. “This changes everything!” said Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison, while presenterRoss King added: “I just can’t believe it!”