Strictly Head Judge, Shirley Ballas
Strictly is back for its 21st series! How does it feel to return to the judging panel for such a monumental series?
I’m super excited to return to the panel, it’s going to be one superb series. I feel so lucky to get a front row seat in the ballroom, it is a real privilege. I cannot wait to nurture and guide our new celebrities to help them become the best dancers they can be.
We’ve asked all the Pro’s what they were doing when they were 21, what were you doing when you were 21? And what was life like for you?
When I was 21 I was married to my dance partner. We were aiming to be world champions and we were dancing professionally and lecturing all over the world.
Every year there is so much excitement when Strictly comes back on our screens, what keeps audiences coming back for more?
I think the injection of glitz and glamour lightens up audience’s living rooms. I think viewers love to follow the journey of our celebrities throughout their time on the show and they enjoy having their own opinions and thoughts on the dances.
What is the biggest joy from your job as a Strictly judge, and the biggest challenge?
The biggest joy is being a small part in the nations favourite show and sharing my knowledge and passion for dance. The biggest challenge is when I hear Anton vote differently to Craig and Motsi in the dance off and then the final say is down to me. It’s so heart breaking having to send anyone home.
If you could only dance, one kind of dance style for the rest of your life what would it be and why?
I think it has to be the rumba, as it’s the dance of love. It’s fast, slow, sharp and soft – it’s got everything in there and it’s such a passionate dance.
Do you have one stand-out dance and/or celebrity dancer from last year’s Strictly Come Dancing?
It has got to be Hamza’s Salsa, what a surprise! The way he was flipping and throwing Jowita around like there’s no tomorrow, it was so impressive. I think that moment will go down in Strictly history.
If you could only pick one favourite performance from all your series so far, what would it be, and why?
I think it would have to be Kelvin Fletcher’s Samba with Oti in Week 1 in 2019. I really don’t know how it could be topped! He has this big smile on his face and his bright blue shirt. It was absolutely outstanding and also technically astonishing – definitely one to remember.
Strictly returned to Blackpool last year, after some time away, how was that, and does it make you excited to return this year?
It was amazing to return to Blackpool, the ballroom there is an iconic venue that holds a very special place in my heart. Being in Blackpool takes everything to a whole new level, it’s the home of ballroom dancing and the walls are steeped in history.
We have 19 brilliant Pro’s for this series, how would you sum up their contribution towards the show making it what it is?
It’s really simple, we wouldn’t have a show without the marvellous professional dancers. They put their all into it and work so hard to bring out the best in their celebrity partners. They dedicate so much of their craft to the show and it pays off each and every series when we see the level of dancing improve. They are such a joy to watch.
Is there a song that will never fail to get you on the dancefloor at parties or weddings? It has to be I’m Still Standing by Elton John. I just can’t resist a jive when I hear that song!
Finally is there anything you are particularly excited for this series?
To be back with my beautiful Judges and for all the laughs and smiles. I’m also really looking forward to fan-girling over Angela Rippon! She announced me during the UK championships many times during my competitive career so her voice brings back so many fond memories.
Strictly Judge, Anton Du Beke
Strictly is back for its 21st series! How does it feel to return to the judging panel for such a monumental series?
I tell you what, I am naturally, brilliantly excited about the whole thing, I can’t wait. For me it’s just a magical time of year when Strictly returns to our screens. It always starts in the summer and goes into the autumn and winter. It’s just brilliant. The excitement about Strictly Come Dancing coming back with all the celebrities and just being in the building with everybody milling around, delighted and happy and joyous and all the brilliant teams back together. It’s so wonderfully exciting.
We’ve asked all the Pro’s what they were doing when they were 21 What were you doing when you were 21?
I would have been dancing, competing, practising and flying about trying to get better, that was my life really. I have literally been dancing every day of my life and also at 21 I think I was working in a bakery. I would have started work at the bakery at three o’clock in the morning, and then dancing at night and competing at weekends. Baker by day, dancer by night!
There’s so much excitement when Strictly comes back. What do you think keeps audiences coming back from?
It’s so multi layered and, I don’t want to repeat myself too much, but it is just brilliant because there’s so much about it you can love. Firstly, it’s the best of the best, there is so much on the show you can enjoy.
Obviously you will want to know who the celebrities are, some you’ll know and some you won’t know as well, and audiences will get a favourite immediately so that’s always exciting in the first show. The music’s amazing, the Judges are brilliant, Tess and Claudia are incredible, the frocks are fantastic, then you have all of sets and the lighting! The show is so multi-generational as well.
What is the biggest joy from your job as a Strictly Judging and what’s the biggest challenge?
The biggest joy is being part of it and turning up every week. It’s a real surprise and a fortune that I’ve been a part of the show since the beginning, and there’s only Craig, Tess and I left from the very first series and to have been part of a show that is part of the fabric of British consciousness – and the world’s, it’s such a global show – is sort of overwhelming, if I think about it too deeply it blows my mind. To be a part of that since the beginning, I feel massive pride. I love it now as much as I did then and I’m delighted about that as well.
What is the biggest joy from your job as a Strictly judge, and the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is eliminating somebody and sometimes it’s tighter than you’d want it to be, but that’s the job and that’s what I’m there for, so that is the most challenging part. Trying to be encouraging, trying to help people – that’s the fun part.
If you could only dance one kind of dance style for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Probably a ballroom dance of some sort I’d imagine, taking a lady into my arms and dancing together. However, if I could do one thing more now, I’d like to become a better tap dancer because I don’t tap as well as I’d like, and I’d like that skill.
Do you have one standout dance or celebrity dancer from last year’s Strictly?
Helen and Gorka’s couples choice dance to Mein Herr and Hamza did some numbers that were staggering, but for pure dancing and precision Helen’s was the standout moment from last year for me.
Strictly returned to Blackpool last year after some time away, how was it, and does it make you excited to return this year?
Oh wasn’t it brilliant?! It’s such a massive production and we all go up to Blackpool and then rig it all up and it takes ten days, I mean it’s a huge thing, but it’s so worth it! It’s a wonderful moment in the series as well, but it means so much more than just going to Blackpool, we’re going for the tower ballroom which is such an iconic venue.
We’ve got 19 brilliant Pro’s this series, how would you sum up their contribution in making the show what it is?
Oh epic, the Pro’s make it what it is, I’ve always felt this really. They’re the ones to put the content for the show on the floor, they perform the group dances, they choreograph their celebrity routines, and they work with the celebrities to get the best out of them. The Pro’s are extraordinary talents and remarkable performers.
Is there a song that will never fail to get you on the dance floor at weddings and parties?
Dancing Queen by ABBA.
Finally, is there anything you’re particularly excited about for this series of Strictly Come Dancing?
Just all of the above, although I am really excited about the Judges number at the beginning. What I would love to do one year, is to do a dance with one of the professionals for one of the artist numbers like I used to. There’s nothing quite like performing, it’s magical, the thing about dancing with a celebrity is you get voted off, and that’s the bit I hated!
Strictly Judge, Motsi Mabuse
Strictly is back for its 21st series! How does it feel to return to the judging panel for such a monumental series?
It feels amazing, and I’m super excited to meet everyone and to see how this season will develop.
We’ve asked all the Pro’s what they were doing when they were 21, what were you doing when you were 21? And what was life like for you?
I had been in Europe for three years and was dancing, minding my own business. Just dancing, my life was dancing. I was dancing in Germany and preparing for a championship. Nothing else, eat, dance and sleep, that’s it.
Every year there’s so much excitement when Strictly comes back on our screens. What keeps audiences coming back for more?
The audiences love the dances and they love the show, it’s a beautiful, emotional show, full of glitz and glamour and we all get to share it together. It’s just such a special time of the year when Strictly starts.
What’s the biggest joy from your job as a Strictly Judge and what’s the biggest challenge?
The biggest joy is being part of such a professional and wonderful team that is huge and everybody’s giving 110% and that that to me is quite inspiring. I think the biggest challenge for me is always the dance off because I bond with all the contestants and sending somebody home is never easy.
If you could only dance one kind of dance style for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Probably the Rumba because that means I get to dance with my husband all my life.
Do you have one standout dance and or celebrity dancer from last years’ Strictly?
I think the Salsa from Hamza and Jowita will remain unforgettable.
If you could only pick one favourite performance from all your series so far, what would it be?
It would be the week one Samba from Kelvin and Oti because he wasn’t meant to be on the show. Jamie Laing had broken his leg and then Oti got Kelvin and no one could have planned anything like that, and he comes on the floor and they just burned the floor. It was absolutely amazing!
Strictly returned to Blackpool last year after some time away, how was that and does it make you excited to return this year?
It was fantastic being back in Blackpool because I also felt like everybody had their game on and I just can’t wait to be back in in the tower ballroom for this new series.
We have 19 brilliant Pro’s for this series, how would you sum up their contribution towards making the show what it is?
Well, the show wouldn’t be what it is without the Pro dancers, it’s quite simple. It wouldn’t be what it is without the dancers, They’re such a big part of the show, they are the other half of a couple, so they are very, very important.
Is there a song that will never fail to get you on the dance floor at parties or weddings?
You Are The First, The Last, My Everything by Barry White
And finally, is there anything you’re particularly excited about for this series?
I’m particularly excited about all the stories we’re going to hear, I believe in the power of personality, there are brand new celebrities so I just want to see their personalities on the floor.
Craig Revel-Horwood
Strictly is back for its 21st series! How does it feel to return to the judging panel for such a monumental series?
It’s like coming home for me. Every year, for the last 20 years, I have been coming home to Strictly and this is no different. I think even better because the line-up for this series is absolutely phenomenal.
We have asked all the pros what they were doing when they were 21. What were you doing when you were 21?
I had my 21st birthday in my hometown of Ballarat, Australia as I hired a bus to take the cast of Me and My Girl, a show I was in at the time there, and had a fantastic time. I remember my 21st so well, because it was just incredible set in a haystack and very Australian and very non-theatrical even though it was full of lots of theatre people. It was a blazing hot day as well and everyone got burned, 21 was a great year for me in the theatre.
Every year, there’s so much excitement when strictly comes back. What keeps audiences coming back for more?
I think it’s a programme that they can rely on. They know it’s the lead up to Christmas and it’s something they know, something they love and it’s something they feel a part of. I think it embraces everybody and it has won the hearts and minds of not only this nation but so many. So there’s something going right with it. I think it makes you feel like a part of the community which I think is great.
What is the biggest joy you take from your job and what’s the biggest challenge?
The biggest joy I take from my job is getting front row seats to the best dance show in the world and the biggest challenge I think for me is making the right decisions when we’re letting someone go. I think that’s the hardest thing for me in the job.
If you could only dance one kind of dance style the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
A Charleston because that’s my speciality, and it’s completely different. It’s such hard work and will keep me thin for the rest of my life. Anyone can do it and it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still get a bit of swivel in there!
Do you have one standout dance or celebrity dancer from last year Strictly?
I loved Fleur in Blackpool, she was amazing, this is when Fleur came into her own, I just loved it. She was right at home and rocking it and I got out my 10 paddle for the first time, which was great. If you could only pick one favourite performance for all your series what would it be? I think Anton Du Beke dancing with Ann Widdecombe, where he did the aeroplane move I just went ‘I cannot believe this is actually happening in front of my very eyes’ and that will stay with me until my death for all the wrong reasons, but every reason that that tells you what Strictly it’s about. I think one of the best dances I’ve seen was Rose and Giovanni, I thought that was just amazing.
Strictly returned to Blackpool last year after some time away, how was that? Does it make you excited to return this year?
Yes, I really loved Blackpool! I filmed a couple of programmes up there over the summer and it was absolutely fantastic because I never get to go there in the summer. The audiences are great and the venue is bigger and I think that’s exciting. And of course it has that wonderful sprung floor, so it’s always great.
We have 19 brilliant Pro’s the series, how would you sum up their contribution towards making the show what it is?
Well, they really make the show. They are the teachers, they’re the nurturers, they’re the embracers, they’re the ones that pick up the pieces after the Judges have judged them, they have to be all sorts of different things apart from just teachers, and they also have to be there to support, so they work really, really hard. They’re the first ones in the last ones out and they’re just amazing.
Is there one song that will never fail to get you on the dance floor at parties or wedding?
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. It’s disco, It’s my era darling and love it.
Finally, is there anything you’re particularly excited about?
This series, I’m really looking forward to see all the group numbers because I love those and I never get to see those until the day. Normally, I get to see them rehearse and all of that but that’s what I look forward to the most.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 23rd September at 6.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.