Shirley Ballas' 'Irritating' Habits Spark Outrage on Strictly Come Dancing
- During the Halloween episode of Strictly Come Dancing, Shirley Ballas impersonated Winifred from Hocus Pocus.
- Viewers expressed frustration with her exaggerated character portrayal and some of her scoring decisions.
- The mixed audience reactions highlighted the tension between performance art and judging responsibilities on the show.
On October 26, 2024, during a Halloween-themed episode of the popular BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing, head judge Shirley Ballas drew ire from viewers for her over-the-top impersonation of the Disney character Winifred from Hocus Pocus. Throughout the show, Ballas exaggerated her speech and actions, which some fans found distracting and inappropriate for a judging role. Several audience members took to social media to express their frustrations, urging her to revert to her usual judging style. Despite the backlash, a minority of viewers appreciated her commitment to the character, highlighting the split opinions on her performance. In addition to her acting interpretation, Ballas's scores for contestants Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell also sparked controversy, particularly as McCausland ended the night joint-bottom of the leaderboard. These developments showcased how both performance style and scoring could evoke strong reactions among the show's fanbase, demonstrating the passionate engagement viewers have with the series.