Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has calmly responded to repeated claims that the prestigious BBC One competition is fixed.
The 62-year-old head panellist shared details of factors she takes into account while judging, after Will Mellor became the latest celebrity to leave the show.
Shirley appeared on today's instalment of This Morning, ahead of this weekend's coveted final - announcing that sending the Coronation Street star packing was her 'hardest decision' so far.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing finalists' overall scores 'leaked' as battle for Glitterball looms
The Mirror reports that in a sit-down chat with hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, Shirley highlighted fan accusations that this season of Strictly is a 'fix', saying that she makes decision based upon a 'whole list' of notes made since this year's competition began.
She said: “Normally when we have to send somebody it's very clear, it's very obvious when we have to. But I have to say, this last week, sending somebody home was very, very difficult as I thought the judges would agree on somebody and they didn't so it was left to me.
“It was difficult because they all tried so hard. Will was a superstar in his own right, it is really, really just small details. You look at both couples and it just becomes a preference at the end of the day, I'm weighing up these mistakes with those mistakes.
“I have a whole list of things that perhaps the general public don't see to come to my conclusion, which is never easy to do.”
Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed its line-up for the 2022 final of the BBC One ballroom show, following the recent departure of Will Mellor. The show is now hurtling towards the grand finale this weekend after another glitter-filled run on BBC One, which has faced disruption in recent weeks due to the Qatar World Cup.
The stars that have successfully clinched places in the final are Molly Rainford, Fleur East, Helen Skelton and Hamza Yassin, who are now all in with a chance of winning the Glitterball trophy. The 20th Strictly final will be hosted by duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman just a week before Christmas on Saturday, December 17, and sitting on the judging panel is Shirley, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke.
Read next:
- Giovanni Pernice publicly backs one Strictly star for win in final
- Helen Skelton leaves Strictly judges with 'concern' in semi final
- Strictly's Vito Coppola tells Fleur East she 'saved' him after tough time
- Strictly fans call for 'rule change' as final dances confirmed
- Strictly results show group performance axed by bosses in aftermath of Solihull tragedy
