SHIRLEY BALLAS: THE STRICTLY CURSE COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE

Video Description

Shirley Ballas is a powerhouse: she’s the only woman in history to win the British Open to the World Professional Latin Championships with two different partners, reaching the final an incredible 17 times, and now the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Shirley during my time on Strictly, and I’ve always been struck by how truly fascinating her story is so I’m so pleased to have her on the show this week… Shirley’s journey began on a housing estate in Northern England, where she grew up with her single mother and older brother, learning resilience early. By seven, she was traveling hours by bus and train to pursue her passion, supported by her hardworking mother, who remains her greatest inspiration. Along the way, Shirley has faced heartbreak, losing her brother to suicide—a tragedy that fuels her advocacy for mental health charities like CALM. She’s also navigated the complexities of love, with engagements as young as 15 and two marriages that taught her as much about herself as they did about relationships. She also opens up for the first time publicly about her relationship with her father, who she recently lost. This conversation explores Shirley’s rollercoaster life, her resilience, and her unyielding passion for dance. Behind the glamour lies a woman who’s faced intense scrutiny, reminding us of the importance of truly listening to the stories behind the spotlight. And don't miss the Strictly Christmas Special on BBC One on Christmas day! 00:00 Intro from Jamie 01:20 When Jamie and I met on Strictly 02:25 The difficulty of growing up without a father 04:15 My mum worked so hard to be able to support us 05:30 My relationships have been a disaster 07:10 Having mixed emotions when my dad passed away 09:30 I was guarded because of the press in 2017 11:30 Constantly being let down by my down as a child 14:20 Learning what happy means to me 16:50 Dancing for the first time at two years old 18:20 I found music first which led me to dance 20:00 I left home at 14 to go and pursue dancing 21:15 Having to travel hours by myself to dance lessons 24:50 Blaming myself for my brother taking his own life 30:00 Supporting others through being an ambassador for CALM 30:55 Hello Fresh Ad 32:00 The Strictly curse can happen in any job 33:25 The controversy surrounding Strictly Come Dancing 34:50 I understand how difficult Strictly is every week 40:40 Who will win Strictly this year? 41:30 Having a hard work ethic to be a dancing champion 43:15 Getting engaged at 15 years old 45:25 The first time I properly felt love was with my second husband 46:15 Explaining my relationship history 50:40 Teaching my second husband to dance and become champions twice 53:00 How a difficult it is to win a dancing competition 57:00 Always having that connection with my first husband 57:50 The books that I have written 1:00:40 Final eight questions #SHIRLEYBALLAS #GREATCOMPANYPODCAST #JAMIELAING -- If you enjoyed this episode, please click follow - we have so many great guests like this one, you won't want to miss out! -- You can also follow us on: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast -- Click here http://www.hellofresh.co.uk/GREATCOMPANYF4L to enjoy an exclusive offer of 60% off your first box, a 25% discount for the following two months and FREE dessert for life! Alternatively, you can use the code “GREATCOMPANYF4L”. This special offer is available for new customers as well as those who cancelled their subscription twelve months ago or more. -- THE CREDITS Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone Assistant Producer: Gurlina Heer Video: Jake Ji Social Media: Laura Coughlan -- Terms and Conditions: This offer entitles you to 60% off your first box, and 25% off your next seven boxes when ordered in consecutive weeks during your first two months as a HelloFresh customer. One voucher per customer and household. Must be 18 or over. You can select one dessert each week following checkout. Dessert options are provided subject to availability and at the sole discretion of HelloFresh. Once redeemed you will be signed up to a flexible rolling weekly subscription. Valid for UK residents only (including Jersey, Guernsey & Isle of Man), excluding Scottish Highlands and Islands. Valid in Ireland too, discount may vary. Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot