Shirley Ballas addresses Strictly exit rumours amid 10th anniversary tribute

It Takes Two tribute leaves Shirley Ballas visibly emotional

The head judge was surprised with a video montage featuring messages and appearances from former professional dancers, her fellow judges and her son Mark Ballas, who is also a professional dancer.

Ballas admitted she had not expected to see her son included in the tribute, saying: "Amazing, I wasn't expecting to see my son on that, to be perfectly honest. All those boys and girls know I adore them."

'I will be loyal to the show'

Her emotional reaction came after weeks of questions about whether she might leave Strictly for a new opportunity in the US. 

Those rumours gathered pace after she appeared as a guest judge on Dancing with the Stars in late October, prompting speculation that she could eventually join the American programme permanently.

However, Ballas used Wednesday's appearance to dismiss the idea once again. 

Speaking about her relationship with the Strictly team, she said: "Any way I can help them, I'm always there for them. I adore the show, I will be loyal to the show until the day they kick me off it!" according to Digital Spy.

She had already given a similar response in an October interview with Prima, where she stated: "I'm 100% not leaving Strictly!"

Ballas has been the show's head judge since 2017, making her one of its longest-serving figures in the current line-up.