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Shirley Ballas has insisted that Strictly would be ‘boring’ without trained performers amid the ongoing row about celebrity contestants with dance experience.
Fans blasted the Strictly judges for saving professional West End performer Amber Davies, over Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink during Sunday’s dance-off.
The Welsh actress has been criticised for having years of dance experience in West End productions prior to appearing on the BBC dance show.
But head judge Shirley, 65, has defended trained dancers taking part in the show telling the Daily Mail that it was the public’s fault for not voting for Jimmy: ‘It was a shock but you have made that happen, not us.’
The television personality argued that it would be ‘boring’ without the more experienced dancers as contestants.
She told Wimbledon BookFest on Sunday: ‘If you put 15 celebrities all of the same level that cannot walk, it would be boring for some people.’
Shirley Ballas has insisted Strictly would be ‘boring’ without trained performers amid the ongoing row about celebrity contestants with dance experience
Fans blasted the Strictly judges for saving professional West End performer Amber Davies
‘I think what they try to do is balance it. The raw beginner, because the person wants to see that journey from never having anything to do with dance to somebody who maybe is a dancer.
‘It is joyful watching someone learn ballroom that may have done ballet.’
‘Because doing ballroom and Latin for anybody who’s danced before is very, very difficult indeed.
She added: ‘It’s a balance between people who have no experience and people who have and I think that that’s what makes the show go round. It gives you something to talk about.’
The former Chelsea footballer Jimmy, 53, found himself in the bottom two alongside Love Island winner Amber Davies, 29, despite both being two of the highest scorers of the week which Shirley described as ‘an absolute shock’.
While Hasselbaink and his dance partner Lauren Oakley scored 30 out of 40 for their American Smooth to Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution, Davies and professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin scored 33 for their Cha Cha Cha to Break Free by Ariana Grande.
Viewers were left fuming by the unanimous decision of the judges to boot off the former footballer in favour of the trained dancer.
One wrote: ‘So a footballer against a West End performer and they save the West End performer. So unfair, Jimmy did great and should have been saved.’
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was voted off during Sunday’s dance-off
Presenters Tess Daley and Claudia Winkleman announced they were departing at the end of the current series
The television personality argued that it would be ‘boring’ without the more experienced dancers as contestants
Another wrote: ‘Jimmy is what Strictly is all about! Zero dance experience but has natural rhythm and a good ear for music. He got better each week!’
It comes after presenters Tess Daley and Claudia Winkleman announced they were departing at the end of the current series.
Shirley, who lives with her mother Audrey Rich, 88, told the Wimbledon BookFest that her mum wants Rylan Clark to replace the duo.
‘If my mother had her way, it would be Rylan Clark who replaces them,’ she said.
Asked if she had any ideas who she’d like to see replace them, Shirley said: ‘Oh absolutely darling, but I couldn’t reveal.’
Shirley also confessed that she will also walk away from the much-loved dance show one day.
She added: ‘I have a very good relationship with them. But sometimes in people’s lives — and we have to respect this — they are ready to move on.
‘We don’t want them to move on, but they are ready to move on. And one day I’ll be ready to move on, and that will be my choice when I feel I’m ready to go.
‘And somebody else will come in, and after a show or two you’ll fall in love with the next person.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer at 6:35pm on Saturday.
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Shirley Ballas lashes out at Strictly critics as she insists show would be ‘BORING’ without trained stars – and defends Amber Davies after shock dance-off