Strictly’s head judge Shirley Ballas discusses return to the show live on Good Morning Britain just minutes before finding out Len Goodman had died aged 78
Strictly’s head judge Shirley Ballas appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday to talk about returning to the show.
Her appearance came just minutes before she learned the sad news that the show’s original head judge, Len Goodman had sadly passed away.
The news of his death from bone cancer at age 78 shocked his legions of fans, who weren’t aware that he was ill.
Len was head judge on the much-loved BBC dance show from 2004-2016, with Shirley, 62, taking over the role a year later.
Appearing on GMB on Monday Shirley addressed rumours that she might not be returning to the dance show amid a pay dispute.
Heartbreaking: Strictly’s head judge Shirley Ballas discussed returning to the show live on air on Good Morning Britain on Monday just minutes before finding out Len Goodman had died aged 78
A huge loss: Len passed away after a short battle with bone cancer – his fans had no idea he was even ill
But she insisted she was always going to come back, saying: ‘You have to make choices and decisions. It took me a minute after last year’s trolling.
‘People would write things. But this year I have a man managing my social media as well as my son. I’m optimistic and hopeful. But this year it will be filtered before it gets to me.’
Shirley also discussed her book, Murder On The Dancefloor, saying: ‘When I wrote my autobiography, there were things I couldn’t include.
‘90% is fiction that I either saw or was part of.
‘My mum’s read it and re-written the end. because she wanted it to be more powerful. It’s fiction but 90% of it’s true.’
During the interview, Shirley insisted that she didn’t argue with bosses about pay.
She said: ‘There was no arguing with the BBC about pay. We are in a cost of living crisis. It’s absolutely not true. There’s no pay rises, there’s no arguing.
‘We are vigilant about the nurses and the cost of living crisis. I don’t know where these leaks come from.’
Moving forward: The TV appearance came days after Strictly Come judges have reportedly backed down amid their pay row with BBC bosses
Agreement: The judged are said to have accepted an offer of between 3 and 5 per cent
Dance icon: Len was head judge on the show from 2005-2016 – Shirley took over the year after
Earlier this week it was revealed that the Strictly Come Dancing judges have reportedly backed down amid their pay row with BBC bosses.
Shirley, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke were allegedly looking to receive an 11 per cent salary rise ahead of the BBC dance competition show’s new season.
But according to The Sun they accepted an offer of between 3 and 5 per cent.
Head judge Shirley is reportedly already earning £500,000, Motsi and Craig rake in £200,000, while Anton is believed to be on £180,000.
A source told the publication ‘There was a real stand off between the judges and the Beeb on this issue, with neither side willing to budge for weeks.
‘Thankfully they reached this resolution and are now breathing a sigh of relief and able to look forward to the new series.
‘The show simply felt that curing a cost of living crisis, and at a time when the licence fee has been frozen, they couldn’t justify an 11 per cent rise.’
The insider added that those involved with the show began to feel like the pay row was becoming a distraction from the upcoming 21st series this autumn.
She’s coming back! Appearing on GMB, Shirley had said she was always going to come back to the show, despite talk of a stand-off with bosses over a pay rise
She said: ‘You have to make choices and decisions. It took me a minute after last year’s trolling’
Source : https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12006805/Strictlys-Shirley-Ballas-air-just-finding-Len-Goodman-died.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&rand=1270
