Shirley Ballas, the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing, is known for her incredible dance expertise, wit, and warmth. The 64-year-old joined the BBC show in 2017 after replacing Len Goodman. Initially, she struggled with the audience accepting her as the head judge, but eventually, she became a fan-favourite on the show.
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Despite how glamorous and glitzy her life looks on TV, the dancing queen battled a private nightmare for years. For over six years, a persistent stalker sent her into a spiral of fear and paranoia. Here’s what we know about the incident.
Shirley Ballas’ stalker: What do we know so far?
Kyle Shaw, a 37-year-old man from Birkenhead, has been charged with stalking Shirley Ballas between August 2017 and November 2023, reports Sky News. Appearing at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court last week, Shaw faced allegations of sending repeated online messages that reportedly caused Shirley ‘serious alarm or distress.’
According to the charges, his actions ‘had a substantial adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities.’ This prompted the dancing icon—who confessed she would never get married—to take measures to protect herself.
Adding to the troubling accusations, Shaw has also been charged with possession of a small amount of cannabis. He did not enter a plea at his court appearance and has since been released on conditional bail, including strict restrictions prohibiting him from contacting Shirley or another individual linked to the case.
The matter has now been escalated to Liverpool Crown Court, with a hearing scheduled for 31 January.
Shirley Ballas opens up about her stalking nightmare
Shirley has opened up about her terrifying experience in recent interviews, shedding light on the toll the stalking took on her personal life and mental health, as per The Express. Speaking candidly on the Mirror's Invite Only podcast in July 2024, she shared harrowing details about her alleged stalker’s behaviour.
While talking about trolling, she was asked if she ever felt like she was in danger. Shirley admitted she did and detailed:
There was one particular person who was kind of stalking me. That is under investigation at the moment, as we speak.
I know his computer and phone, everything has been confiscated. He was taking pictures of my house, he had my house, he had my car. So, yes, there have been times when I have been fearful.
He feels he knows me. But he only knows me from the TV. Or from following me on social media. And that's quite alarming.
Revealing how the stalking nightmare has affected her day-to-day life, Shirley explained she's a vigilant person and avoids going out at night. Highlighting Holly Willoughby's stalking ordeal, she added:
I am a very vigilant person. When I go out, I'm careful not to go alone. If it's at night, I'm always a little bit nervous.
So, yeah, I don't take anything lightly. There are many amazing people, but there are a few strange people out there. It's quite hard and makes you always a little bit more precautious.
Read more:
Shirley Ballas struggling with deteriorating back condition: Will it affect her future on Strictly?
Pete Wicks' childhood trauma: How a letter to his mother pushed him to quit Celebrity SAS
Sources used:
Sky News: Man charged with stalking Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas
The Express: Man charged for stalking BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas in six-year ordeal
