bags

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas looks set to fly the nest and follow the likes of Bruno Tonioli to the stateside version of the show, Dancing With The Stars

Shirley Ballas is getting ready to quickstep her way stateside with a new role on Dancing With The Stars, according to reports. The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 66, is said to be ready to follow the likes of Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman to switch to the US version of the dance show.

It’s claimed she won’t give up her role on the BBC’s prime Saturday show, though. Instead, insiders claim she will fit filming in between the live Strictly shows.

“Shirley will fly to the US later this month after the Strictly live show finishes,” the source said. They added that, as DWTS is filmed throughout the week, she will then return in time for the live weekend shows.

To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed.

“It’s a whirlwind schedule, but she jumped at the chance to take part,” the source told The Sun. They went on to claim that, while it’s just a one-off for now, it could progress. They said: “If the US TV bosses think Shirley is a hit, they’re sure to see if she would come back.”

Shirley initially joined Strictly as head judge in 2017. But fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood recently joked she will never be able to fill the boots of late legend Len Goodman, who died in 2023 at the age of 78.

‘For me, he was Strictly Come Dancing, Craig said at the unveiling of a tribute sculpture to the legendary judge at the Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford in July. “His sayings… ‘A ten from Len’ was a huge one. Shirley has tried to replicate that one, but sadly, she failed.”

He also paid tribute to his genuine off-screen friendship with Len, saying viewers only ever saw one side of their famously fiery relationship. He went on: “I loved Len. If you looked at the TV, we were constantly fighting like cat and dog, but as soon as we came off stage, we’d have a pally drink together.

“‘We toured together. So I was stuck in a car with Len for hours and hours while he got out to look at another building, darling.”

The judge also revealed how Len helped him overcome his biggest fear when he first joined Strictly. ‘I am now the age Len was when he started Strictly.

“There was a twenty-year difference between us. I’ll let you into a little secret – when I started, I was having nightmares because I didn’t know ballroom and Latin.”

Len, who also appeared on DWTS, was given a huge tribute on the show following his death. The show announced in 2023 that they were officially renaming the famous mirrorball trophy to the Len Goodman Trophy.

Julianne Hough said at the time: “Len was on this panel for nearly all of our 32 seasons and although he’s irreplaceable we wanted to pay tribute to him… Len will always be going forward with us.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

The 13-year-old beat the previous 400m Asian Games record, set by China’s Ye Shiwen in 2014, by about 4.5 seconds.

China’s 13-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi has completed a hat-trick of Asian Games golds with a dominant victory in the 400m individual medley, two years before the Los Angeles Olympics.

The schoolgirl powered home in an Asian Games-record 4 minutes 28.56 seconds (04:28.56) on Wednesday to make it a clean sweep of her three individual events in Tokyo, following victories in the 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley, also in games-record times.

She beat the previous 400m games record set by China’s Ye Shiwen in 2014 by approximately 4.5 seconds.

It was the fourth-fastest time in the world this year, with world record-holder Summer McIntosh owning the top three.

With the next Olympics two years away, Yu is shaping up to be a major medal contender at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Last year, she became the youngest medallist at the World Aquatics Championships, where she won bronze for China’s relay team at the age of 12, and has since been earmarked for success in the swimming world.

At the same championship, Yu finished fourth by a small margin in three individual events.

In March, the teen sensation built on her growing reputation with a 200m butterfly victory over seven-time American Olympic medallist Regan Smith at the China Swimming Open.

At the Asian Games, Yu has dominated the pool and showed another glimpse of her immense talent in the 400m individual medley, where she took the lead from the start and finished 3.95 seconds clear of silver medallist Ke Wenxi of China, with Japan’s Mio Narita finishing third.

In addition to grabbing international headlines, Yu has become a sensation at home following her Asian Games exploits.

The story of her introduction to competitive swimming after being spotted by a coach at a water park, and her struggle with interviews, has gone viral on local social media platforms.

At the games, Yu was asked by the media whether answering questions was the hardest part of competing. She replied, with a giggle: “Every time I just want to float off somewhere else.”