Strictly’s Shirley Ballas risks missing 1st show as she’s struck down by illness

STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has revealed fears she could miss the first show after falling sick days before the launch.

The ballroom dancer took to her social media to reveal she was isolating after catching Covid-19, just days before filming for the first show is due to start on September 7.

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Shirley, 61, took to Instagram to reveal she was self-isolating at home after testing positive for the virus in the run-up to filming.

Appearing on camera in a mask, with her hair tied back and make-up free, she explained she was on her third day of staying home.

“So, day three of my Covid, and cleaning the silver and staying busy because I can’t sit still,” she told her fans.

She continued, as she filmed in her pyjamas: “Thank you all for your well-wishes, feeling a little bit better today.

“Hopefully it will clear in a couple of days and I hope everybody is having a really good time and I’m cleaning this one. Keeping busy.”

It’s the second time that Shirley has battled the coronavirus, as she also came down with the virus last year, enduring a rough ride.

She explained at the time: “Although I didn’t have to go to hospital, I was in bed for two weeks and I didn’t know my own name. It was scary for a while.

“I couldn’t get my act together, and that is not like me. I’m usually up at seven in the morning, going here and there. So it was quite an experience and it has left that tiring effect.

 “There are now some other issues that have occurred… from tiredness to certain lumps and bumps, and we’re dealing with that.”

Shirley is due to take part in the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing again this year, alongside Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and former pro dancer Anton du Beke.

Shirley made her first appearance on the Strictly panel in 2017, taking over from long-running star Len Goodman.

She specialises in Latin dance and her success at championships earned her the nickname The Queen of Latin.

She will join Motsi, who was revealed as Darcey Bussell’s replacement on the hit show back in 2019, and Craig, who is the only original judge to be on the panel.

Anton joined Strictly as a pro dancer for the very first series – and was promoted to the judging panel in 2021 to replace Bruno Tonioli.