‘I’m not going anywhere, says Strictly’s Shirley Ballas as she slams trolls who demand that she be sacked

STRICTLY’S head judge Shirley Ballas has hit back after online trolls launched a petition to get her kicked off the show.

It follows her decision to vote off singer Shayne Ward last week, which also led to abuse on social media.

Ahead of last night’s showpiece Blackpool Tower round, Shirley said: “If it was to end here tomorrow, I’d be very grateful for the trips that I’ve had. It’s been the trip of a lifetime, for sure.”

The Queen of Latin, who joined the BBC One series seven years ago, got a barrage of stick after last week’s shock dance-off between the Coronation Street actor and Wynne Evans. It resulted in the judges saving the opera singer.

Some people have started a petition calling for Shirley to be sacked from her role.

But she has hit out at the “vitriol” and pledged her future to the show.

‘Light of my life’

Asked if she is going to be part of the line-up next year, Shirley, 64, said: “You know, I’m not going anywhere as long as the BBC would like to have me.”

She added firmly: “I judge without fear or favour.

“I’m just someone who sits in that chair as head judge to stay in my lane and judge the dancing — legs, feet, body co-ordination, synchronisation and chemistry between the leader and the follower.”

Shirley said that it is not just fans of the show who give her flack — she has also had grief from celebrity pals and her own mum.

But she had this message for critics: “Strictly is the light of my life and my friends’ lives.

“My mother in particular, she is that armchair watcher who sits there in that little pink dressing gown she’s had for a thousand years, either with her arms folded because she didn’t agree with what I said or very inviting and wanting to make me a cup of tea.

“I’ve got a lot of friends who are like, ‘Oh you shouldn’t have sent this one home, you shouldn’t have sent that one’.

“And then I’ll say, ‘Did you vote?’ And they didn’t vote, so therefore you’re not entitled to complain if you don’t vote.

“I think no matter who goes home at any part of the show, it’s always going to be somebody’s favourite.

“Of course, the public pick the winner in the final, which they never seem to get wrong, in my opinion.

“Then it’s just that respect for the judges when we have to choose somebody to go home because the public have put them in the bottom two.”

Thankfully for Shirley, she has got the unconditional support of fellow judges Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood.

The self-styled “Fab Four” back each other on and off the show.

Shirley said: “All of us get along magnificently well — really very, very supportive of each other. And I have to say, going to work is a real peach of a time. Fabulous.”

Shirley said the celebrities should feel honoured to have performed at the Blackpool Tower last night.

She said: “They are dancing in the most iconic ballroom in the world. It has the best sprung floor that legends have danced on.

‘Flair and flavour’

“The building holds so much history. There have been more world champions crowned in that ballroom than anywhere else.”

As Strictly celebrates its 20th anniversary year, Shirley believes it can last another two decades on the box.

She added: “Oh, 100 per cent. I think this is here to stay while the general public really love it. And for that we are eternally grateful.”

I’ve got lots of friends who say, ‘Oh you shouldn’t have sent this one or that one home’. But they didn’t vote, so you aren’t entitled to complain if you
don’t vote

While there are still four weeks until the Strictly final, Shirley is already anticipating which celebrities could take to the famous dance floor in the future.

And there is one musical icon she would like to dance with.

She said: “It would have to be Tom Jones. I would love to have those snake-like hips twirling around. I just love Tom Jones. I’ve loved him since I was a little girl and I just adore his music and think he’s a great mover.

“I would have to dance the beautiful Rumba with the great Tom Jones.

“A vertical expression of a horizontal desire and the desire would be all mine.”

Away from the dance floor, Shirley says she is going to be glued to her TV tonight for the launch of I’m A Celebrity, as pal and former Strictly dancer Oti Mabuse heads into the jungle.

And she is tipping her to be “flair and flavour”.

She said: “I will be tuning in because I’m a big Coronation Street fan as well.

“We’ve got somebody from Coronation Street, Alan Halsall, and, of course, Oti is a very good friend of mine. I will be supporting her.

“She’s gonna bring in flair and flavour, I think she will be giving 100 per cent.

“She’ll eat those eyeballs like it’s breakfast morning with the baby.

“Oti is going to entertain. She’s an all round great gal.”