EXCLUSIVEStrictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas grilled about Thomas Skinner cheating scandal by Susanna Reid in punchy Good Morning Britain interview

The 65-year-old, who became head judge on the BBC dance show in 2017, appeared on the ITV programme to chat to Susanna, 54, and co-host Richard Madeley, 69, to chat about the brand new series which hit our screens over the weekend.

Thomas – who shot to fame on the 19th series of BBC’s The Apprentice – has been at the centre of this year’s series before the hit show kicked off.

He cheated on his wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding in May 2022, which Amy-Lucy, 35, claimed lasted three months long in an interview with Daily Mail.

Susanna wasted no time addressing the scandal and asked Shirley: ‘When you’re there at the show recording, are you under a sense of responsibility because of the scandal that’s hit Strictly, do you even consider it?

‘We’ve got the issue around Thomas Skinner? We’ve got previous scandals,or is it a different planet of sequins and sparkles?’

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas (pictured) was grilled about the Thomas Skinner cheating scandal by Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday

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Thomas (pictured with Amy Dowden) – who shot to fame on the 19th series of BBC’s The Apprentice – has been at the centre of this year’s series before the hit show kicked off

Shirley said: ‘It doesn’t even touch the sides.

‘Baubles, bangles and beads for me. I stay in my lane, I am there to do a critique from the tips of your toe to the top of your head.

‘Coordination, synchronization, beautiful personality.

‘I don’t get involved in anything.’

Richard said: ‘The thing is, you can never see these things coming. I was watching on Saturday and I couldn’t see any potential that we’ve seen over the last two or three  years with Strictly.

‘But you just never know. You don’t know what people are going to do, say, what paparazzi shots are going to emerge mid-week.’

‘We do have the best professionals in the world,’ Shirley said.

‘They are all doing their very, very best throughout the week. I am sure that the final four or three, whatever it may be, will be off the chart.’

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Shirley pictured with her fellow judges Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke

This year has a stellar line-up which consists of: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey aka Nitro, Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Balvinder Sopal, George Clarke, La Voix and Chris Robshaw.

They are joined by the likes of Ellie Goldstein, Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, Stefan Dennis, Ross King, Karen Carney and Lewis Cope.

The judge also spoke about her verdict on the celebrities taking part in the new series.

Susanna asked: ‘Who is going to win, Shirley?’

Shirley replied: ‘Well you know, it’s actually an even playing field.

‘There is one or two of them that have got the moves, but I think that this is going to be a real tough series, I really do.

‘I wouldn’t even like to predict who I think is going to go home first.

‘I had a good look when they were all doing their little dance on the launch show, they have all got a personality.

‘Ellie was just outstanding. She was just loving every minute of this. She just brought so much joy.’

Richard and Susanna also touched upon her dating life – and she has been rejected by celebrity data app Raya.

I have no idea, my PA got accepted, but for some reason, I’ve sent everything in, been recommended by friends, I just thought that it would be nice to go on a little date,’ Susanna said.

‘I just thought it would be a little bit of fun, but no. Reject!’