By Milo Pope
Copyright metro
Strictly judge Shirley Ballas will no longer be the only judge to make a deciding vote (Picture: Emily Manley)
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has been ‘stripped’ of having to make a deciding vote in each week’s dance-off.
The head judge, 65, joined the judging panel in 2017 after replacing Len Goodman.
However, in an effort to protect Shirley from online trolls, Strictly bosses have decided to rotate the responsibility between the four judges each week.
It is said that Shirley begged for help after receiving abuse in the past over having to decide who goes home, according to The Sun.
Announcing the change on Saturday, Shirley said on the show: ‘For seven years, I have been responsible for one gruelling decision. But that’s about to change.’
Host Tess Daly then confirmed that judges Shirley, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood will all share the deciding vote.
Shirley joined the Strictly judging panel in 2017 (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
The first dance-off will be held next Sunday (Picture: PA Wire)
A BBC insider told the Mirror: ‘A happy by-product of the change will mean that Shirley is subject to less vitriol.
‘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.’
In 2023, Shirley hired an expert to help her deal with the vile abuse she has received in recent years.
Former Strictly competitor Fleur East previously hit out at the ‘unfair’ criticism towards Shirley, while Strictly pro Dianne Buswell urged viewers to ‘be kind’ towards the beloved star.
Last year, Shirley also hinted that the negative comments had almost made her consider quitting the show, after the trolls sent her thousands of ‘truly awful’ messages about her decisions to send contestants home.
‘Last year I was struggling. It wasn’t just a little bit, it was a lot – the majority of it was in silence,’ she said.
‘I felt the abuse snowballed out of control and impacted me in such a negative way. I’m a pretty stoic person, and I tend to hold everything in.’
The responsibility for deciding who goes home will now be shared between the four judges (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston /PA Wire)
Shirley has previously spoken out about the hate she has received online (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
The voting change comes on Strictly after fans were left frustrated by there not being a Strictly results show and elimination on Sunday.
As in previous seasons, there isn’t an elimination in the first week of the show, and the contestants get to dance for the judges, safe in the knowledge that they won’t be going home just yet.
However, the celebs won’t be safe for long as next week the public will be voting for their favourites on Sunday, October 5. At the end of this episode, the judges will reveal the celebrity they’ll be sending home.
The first dance-off will be held next Sunday after Ross King received the lowest score of ten with pro Jowita Przystal on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner – who has made headlines in recent weeks after admitting to cheating on his wife – also struggled on 16 with Amy Dowden.
Metro has approached Shirley’s reps and the BBC for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday, October 4.
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