Bafta TV Awards: Strictly’s Shirley Ballas has a hole in her heart from Darcey Bussell quitting judging panel
SHIRLEY Ballas has poured her heart out about her pal Darcey Bussell leaving Strictly.
Speaking at the TV Baftas, the head judge said she had a "hole in her heart" from fer fellow judge quitting the show.
Shirley has opened up about how much famous ballerina Darcey will be missed after announcing she was leaving the BBC show after seven years.
The Strictly star, 58, told the Sun Online: "I have a hole in my heart from where Darcey is leaving.
"We got to spend the Strictly tour together and we shared a changing room.
"She was just the most magnificent human being on planet earth that anybody could possibly wish to meet, amazing!"
Speaking about her possible replacement, Shirley added: "I think again the BBC will pick someone who is qualified and fits in with the panel, because obviously there's four of us and we've all got to gel, everybody's got to have their compartments and know what they're doing."
The show was won by Kevin Clifton and his dance partner Stacey Dooley last year, who the Sun Online revealed have been dating.
This year's show promises to be just as exciting, and planning for the choreography has already begun.
Shirley said: "Well it's about to start again! It's back in August and everybody starts preparing in July."
Bafta Television Awards: Full list of winners
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- MINI-SERIES: Patrick Melrose (Showtime/Sky Atlantic)
- LEADING ACTRESS: Jodie Comer – Killing Eve (BBC America/BBC Three)
- LEADING ACTOR: Benedict Cumberbatch – Patrick Melrose (Showtime/Sky Atlantic)
- Female performance in a comedy programme: Jessica Hynes – There She Goes (BBC Four)
- Male performance in a comedy programme: Steve Pemberton – Inside No 9 (BBC Two)
- INTERNATIONAL: Succession (HBO/Sky Atlantic)
- SUPPORTING ACTOR: Ben Whishaw – A Very English Scandal (BBC One)
- SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Fiona Shaw – Killing Eve (BBC One)
- ENTERTAINMENT PEFORMANCE: Lee Mack – Would I Lie To You? (BBC One)
- SPECIALIST FACTUAL: Suffragettes With Lucy Worsley (BBC One)
- REALITY AND CONSTRUCTED FACTUAL: I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! ( ITV)
- ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME: Britain’s Got Talent (ITV)
- SCRIPTED COMEDY: Sally4Ever (Sky Atlantic/HBO)
- COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME: A League of Their Own (Sky One)
- FACTUAL SERIES: Louis Theroux’s Altered States (BBC Two)
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"The numbers are already being thought about now. I think it's exciting. I can't wait for when the cold weather comes, and it gets dark and then you have this magical TV show on a Saturday evening. What more could you ask for?"
Darcey, 49, announced in a statement she was quitting the show after seven years.
She said: "It has been a complete privilege for me to be part of Strictly, working with such a talented team.
"I have enjoyed every minute of my time and will miss everyone from my fellow judges, the presenters, the dancers, the musicians, the entire back stage team, and especially the viewers of the show, who have been so supportive.
"I am not leaving because of any upset or disagreement at all, I am just stepping away to give more focus to my many other commitments in dance, after seven truly wonderful years that I can’t imagine having gone any better."
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