Strictly Come Dancing's head judge, Shirley Ballas, shut down speculation on behind-the-scenes arguments over pay with the BBC.
The ballroom legend joined Good Morning Britain to discuss her return to the panel amid concerns she was too deeply affected by online comments. Shirley admitted it was difficult to read the stories about herself but she's keen to move forward.
She said: "I think at the end of the day, people would write things and it would just be a handful of people, but then the press picks it up and it goes front page or it becomes a larger than life thing.
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"But this year, I'm optimistic and positive. I've got a young man who will be helping me with my social media plus my son, Mark. So I'm very excited that that will be filtered before it gets to me."
GMB host Susanna Reid later quizzed Shirley on whether or not the Strictly judging panel was in conflict with the BBC over their pay. Shirley clarified the rumours were untrue and that everyone involved enjoys an amicable relationship with their bosses.
She added: "Well, first of all, I can clarify that there was no arguing with the BBC over pay. Somebody met me coming off the cruise and the first thing the paparazzi man said to me was, 'You got a £55,000 rise,' and this is absolutely not true.
"So I can honestly say that there are no pay rises. There is no answer. It's not true and there's no arguing. You know, it is what it is and I think people are vigilant, the BBC are vigilant, and we are vigilant that we are going through a crisis but there was no standoff."
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