Monday, November 2, 2026 - Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has hit back at criticism from furious viewers after her controversial scoring during the show's Halloween special sparked widespread debate.
The 66-year-old judge came under fire after awarding Tabby Stoecker just five points for her Quickstep, with some fans insisting the performance deserved a much higher mark. Jaime Winstone also received five points, prompting further questions about Shirley's judging decisions. Social media quickly filled with complaints, with viewers describing the scores as unfair and questioning whether certain contestants were being judged more harshly than others.
Speaking on Strictly: Lights Up, Shirley directly addressed the backlash and defended her approach, insisting that she judges each performance according to what she sees rather than previous scores or public expectations. She explained: "Everything is according to what I see at that particular time without fear or favour. I don't do fluff." She also rejected suggestions that five points represented a poor performance, explaining that she considers five a good score.
According to Shirley, contestants need to maintain the standards established earlier in the competition, while higher marks should be reserved for performances demonstrating greater technical achievement.
The controversy comes after Shirley faced criticism for her comments about other contestants, including Delta Goodrem and Bethany Antonia. While some viewers have questioned her delivery and consistency, others have defended her approach, arguing that honest criticism is an important part of professional judging. Shirley has previously revealed that negative public attention affected her during her early years on the programme, even making her consider quitting.
Nevertheless, she remains firm in her belief that contestants need constructive feedback to improve. As the competition continues, attention will remain on whether her strict scoring approach changes and how audiences respond to the next round of performances.
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