‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It’- Strictly’s Shirley Ballas Makes Huge New Series Admission
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has lifted the lid on the “absolute chaos and carnage” behind this year’s dramatically revamped launch show.
The BBC favourite returned for 2026 with a new presenting team, fresh professional dancers and a radically different way of revealing the celebrity partnerships.
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe made their debut together following the departures of long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
But according to Shirley, even the judges had little idea what was going to happen as the celebrities and professionals were matched through a new “speed dancing” format.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she admitted.
Shirley Says New Pairing Format Was ‘Totally Bonkers’
Shirley, 66, returns to the judging panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
Reflecting on last weekend’s launch episode, she admitted the new format caught her completely by surprise.
“Totally new, totally fresh and totally bonkers,” Shirley said.
“We genuinely didn’t know who was going to end up with who and it made the launch one like never before.”
The unusual process produced this year’s 15 partnerships, including EastEnders star Lacey Turner with Vito Coppola, Delta Goodrem with Kai Widdrington and Graeme Hall with Lauren Oakley.
Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu were also paired together as one of this year’s same-sex partnerships.
Shirley admitted that predicting the final combinations proved almost impossible.
“I really did struggle to work out who’d be with who this year,” she said.
Shirley and Motsi Were ‘Dying With Laughter’
The chaotic scenes apparently proved particularly entertaining for Shirley and fellow judge Motsi.
“We’ve got a dance floor full of personalities,” Shirley explained.
She added that she and Motsi were “absolutely dying with laughter at the desk watching the chaos of the pairings unfold”.
Now that the partnerships are settled, Shirley is eager to see what the celebrities can produce when the first live show gets underway on Saturday, September 26.
“I genuinely cannot wait to see all our couples and I truly mean it,” she said.
“It’s so exciting witnessing a new cast experience the magic of our show.”
Shirley Gives Celebrities Simple Advice
With nerves likely to be running high ahead of the opening performances, Shirley also offered some straightforward advice to the celebrities.
Her main message was to trust their professional partners.
“Listen to your teacher,” she said.
“You’ve studied, you’ve practiced and all that is left to do is prove to yourself what you are capable of.”
She urged the contestants not to make last-minute changes or allow nerves to take over.
“Don’t overthink, don’t change anything and just live in the moment.”
Shirley then recalled some famous advice from late Strictly judge Len Goodman: “Turn up, show up and shut up!”
One Week-One Dance Still Stands Above the Rest
Having watched countless opening performances during her time on the programme, Shirley revealed that one still stands out.
She named Kelvin Fletcher’s Samba with Oti Mabuse in 2019 as one of the most memorable first-week routines she has ever seen.
Kelvin had joined the series as a late replacement before eventually going on to win the Glitterball Trophy with Oti.
“It was of a quality I’d never seen in week one before and he wasn’t even supposed to be on the show!” Shirley recalled.
“It was simply brilliant and I still think about it to this day.”
Shirley Excited to Be Back With Her ‘Strictly Family’
Despite all the changes surrounding the 2026 series, Shirley said one of her favourite parts of the job remains unchanged.
She still loves simply arriving at the studio every Saturday and seeing what she calls her “Strictly family”.
There is also one colleague guaranteed to keep her entertained at the judges’ desk.
“Sitting next to Anton Du Beke every Saturday is fun,” she joked.
“He’s like a naughty school boy!”
After the unpredictable launch episode, however, Shirley and the rest of the panel will soon have to get serious.
The newly formed couples are preparing for their first live routines, and while nobody will be eliminated this weekend, their opening performances will provide the first real indication of who could emerge as contenders — and who still has plenty of work to do.
