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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Everett

Strictly judge Shirley Ballas sparks fear she'll miss launch after positive Covid test

Shirley Ballas has sparked concerns that she could miss the first episode of Strictly Come Dancing as she has tested positive for Covid-19.

The head judge, 61, has fallen ill just days before the launch of the 2022 series, which has left fans wondering if she will be present for the first episode.

The star took to her social media to tell her followers that she is currently unwell, just a few days before Strictly is due to start filming on September 7.

Shirley shared a video while she was self isolating at home after testing positive.

Filming herself while wearing a mask going makeup free with her hair tied back, she said she was on her third day of being stuck at home.

She said: "So, day three of my Covid, and cleaning the silver and staying busy because I can't sit still. 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."

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

The judge first appeared on the panel in 2017 as she took over from long-running star Len Goodman.

After being successful in the dancing world, Shirley earned the name of The Queen of Latin.

Shirley had already tested positive for Covid before, coming down with the illness last year.

At the time she said: "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's announcement comes after it was reported that Strictly Come Dancing bosses are apparently investigating a travel company over the BBC's strict advertising rules, after three of the professional dancers appeared in an unauthorised advert.

Nadiya Bychkova, Giovanni Pernice and Kai Widdrington all appeared in an advert for a private travel company promoting a dance-weekend on the travel firm website.

Shirley will be joined by fellow judges, Anton, Motsi and Craig (BBC)

The broadcaster's policy states: "Actors and artists who perform in BBC output should not appear in promotional work, including advertisements, in a way which mimics or replicates their on-air roles for the BBC."

A new themed week is being added alongside the likes of Halloween, Blackpool and Musicals Week.

There will be a round of dances dedicated to the BBC, which will see this year's celebs dance to theme tunes from the BBC’s most famous shows, to mark the channel's 100 year anniversary.

There will also be two BBC-themed professional routines starring Strictly Come Dancing's professional dancers, one of which will be dedicated to the broadcaster's natural history shows while another will see pro dancers 'crashing' its flagship programmes.

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