Seann Walsh and Katya Jones scandal: Shirley Ballas slams reports she wants Strictly pair AXED after kiss

The head judge tried to swerve questions about Walsh and Jones
Being judged: Head adjudicator Shirley Ballas
BBC
Emma Powell10 October 2018
The Weekender

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Shirley Ballas has shut down reports she was calling for Seann Walsh and Katya Jones to be kicked off of Strictly Come Dancing, saying she does not comment on contestants’ private lives.

The BBC ballroom show has been embroiled in a scandal after pictures emerged of professional dancer Katya Jones passionately kissing comedian Seann Walsh on his then-girlfriend’s birthday last week.

It was reported that Ballas wanted the dancing duo axed from the series ahead of Saturday night’s show, with a source telling The Sun: “Shirley has been on about Seann Walsh and Katya Jones being axed from the show.

“They'll definitely feel the wrath of Shirley and they are all saying they will likely be bottom of the viewers' vote so likely to go this week anyway.”

Awkward: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones will dance on Saturday night
Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire

But Ballas hit back on This Morning where she insisted she will judge the dances – not the scandal.

“I’m there to judge a competition about dancing,” she told Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. “I’m not there to judge anyone’s private life.

Dumped: Seann Walsh was publicly ditched by Rebecca Humphries

“I’m there as an adjudicator. They’re going to dance on Saturday I believe and we shall be judging the dancing.”

Ballas attempted to dodge questions about the kiss – which resulted in Walsh being dumped by girlfriend Rebecca Humphries – as she shut down talk of a Strictly ‘curse’.

She said: “I think things happen all the time in any industry. Any show that’s on the television is in the public eye so it gets a little bit more attention. It’s not necessarily because it’s Strictly.”

Walsh and Katya will dance the Charleston on Saturday. It is unclear if the routine was the original dance, as it was reported they made changes after bosses allegedly told them to make it less “sexy”.

Walsh is the favourite to leave the competition on Sunday night with odds of 5/4 according to Betfair.

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One, Saturday at 6:40pm

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