Shirley Ballas defends her decision to send Shayne Ward home

Shirley Ballas stood by her decision to send Shayne Ward home on last week's Strictly after receiving what she called a 'vitriol' reaction from some fans.

The head judge of the BBC dance competition, 64, said she was called 'evil' by some viewers after choosing to keep opera singer Wynne Evans and his dance partner Katya Jones in the competition over Shayne.

Speaking on Friday at the Winter Gardens to launch her second fiction novel, Dance to the Death, Shirley said she 'stands by her decision 150 per cent' and vowed to continue judging without 'fear or favour'.

She added: 'The audiences at home see certain camera angles, with all the effects and things like leaves falling down on the screen. 

'But as judges we just see the cold ballroom as it is. We see all the footwork and landings, little mistakes, things like that, that influence our decision.'

Shirley sparked backlash from viewers and was accused of being 'biased' after she sided with Anton Du Beke over Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse to send the Welshman off to perform at the iconic Blackpool Tower ballroom on Saturday as his was a more 'joyous' performance. 

Fans wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'So wrong, Shirley Ballas makes me so cross. When judging it's ok to say one was joyous when they are dancing the same. How on earth can anyone say that when it's a gallop against the rumba.';

'Hopefully b****y go compare man will go next week. Shayne was the better dancer by far. Shirley and anton are so biased';

'If @ShirleyBallascan’t be impartial she shouldn’t be a judge let alone head judge. “Joyous” as a reason to save someone. Pathetic. #Strictly';

'Wrong so wrong #strictly Just because he's called Wynne doesn't mean he should.. Can you even do a joyous Rhumba Poor Shayne'.

Shirley also spoke candidly about the ups and downs that have accompanied her throughout her career from bullying to relationship problems and two failed marriages - the first one being at age 18 to fellow ballroom dancer Sammy Stopford and later Corky Ballas.

Despite naming both Sammy and Corky as she spoke of her journey to becoming a professional judge, she did not address recent reports that six months ago she split with her fiancé and partner of six years Danny Taylor, 51.

The pair, who had been engaged since 2021, reportedly tried to make their relationship work but ended up calling off their marriage, with long distance being a factor.

Shirley spoke of how she has been living with her mother, who is in remission from cancer, in London for three years, telling her fans she 'wouldn't have it any other way'. Danny meanwhile still lives in Liverpool.

Last week a source described it as a 'very sad situation' adding: 'She gave her all to that relationship and in the end came to the realisation that it wasn't going anywhere.

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Strictly fans accuse Shirley Ballas of being 'biased' for sending home Shayne Ward

'She made a lot of effort to see Danny and support his theatre and panto work, travelling up and down the country.'

Throughout the evening, Shirley made several revelations in front of an intimate audience, including that her first book - Murder on the Dance Floor - is set to be turned into a six-part television series.

She also went on to speak about her upcoming project alongside her son Mark Ballas, a professional on Dancing With the Stars, where the mother-son duo will provide choreography for a Hollywood film called The Light Fantastic - a rom com based on ballroom dancers in Blackpool.

The judge, who took over Len Goodman in 2017, however, made no indication that the new projects could affect her leaving her role on the BBC show.

Shirley spoke of how she stumbled across ballroom dancing at the age seven after coming across a group of dancers in the local church hall.

After convincing her mother to pay for the lessons, which then cost 15p per class, she ended up becoming 'married to it'.

On Saturday, Shirley was spotted fresh faced as she left her hotel room in Blackpool and headed to filming. 

The head judge donned a casual figure of black trousers and a white button up shirt.

She kept warm with a long cream coat and added a poppy brooch to mark Remembrance Day. 

She appeared in high spirits as she also posed for a snap alongside Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke. 

Craig wore a blue puffer jacket paired with white trousers, while Anton opted for a long white puffer coat and green trousers.