_{Shirley Ballas has with fans speculating about her future as head judge. (Image: ZUMA Press Inc / Alamy)}

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has come under fire recently over a decision to send home Shayne Ward instead of Wynne Evans during the current 22^nd series.

Several Strictly fans erupted in fury on social media at the decision, which resulted in some even calling for a petition to encourage the BBC to axe the Latin and ballroom show's main panellist.

Related Reads

• Best UK Casino Sites | Find Your Top Online Casinos for November
• Odds On Who Will Be Cast In The Real Housewives of London

On November 10^th, a Strictly viewer wrote on X: "can we start a petition to get shirley off this show, she doesn’t even bother trying to conceal her favouritism anymore and she’s head judge?? it’s just not fair on the other contestants #strictly (sic)"

Shirley herself sparked speculation that her time could soon be up on the Latin and ballroom show, by replying to the message, "Where do I sign lol. Night night. X"

Shirley Odds-On To Go

As well as calls for a petition, some simply urged Shirley to leave the series.

One wrote on X: "Strictly is turning into a joke! Shane was a better dancer FFS! Shirley needs to go! I’ve had enough of her now! It needs to go back to the public vote! (sic)"

Another called for a rule change, saying on social media: "Absolute disgrace wynne going through, Shayne is a far better dancer, I don't get when its 2-2 shirley gets the decider. It should go to the public. Absolute farce. (sic)"

One viewer even called for Darcey Bussell to return to the panel, writing, "Bring back Darcy, Shirley is full of herself and has her favourites. Len would never have stood for this! (sic)"

Following the torrent of abuse Shirley has faced in recent weeks and her hint at signing a petition to see her go, she is just 10/11 to depart the show by the end of this year's series, but it's 11/10 she exits in 2025.

However, Shirley has confessed that even her own mother and some of her celebrity pals tell her she gets it wrong sometimes, but she brushes off their opinions. And the star has insisted she won't be departing the judging panel anytime soon—unless the BBC don't want her anymore.

She told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "You know, I’m not going anywhere as long as the BBC would like to have me.

"I judge without fear or favour. I’m just someone who sits in that chair as head judge to stay in my lane and judge the dancing—legs, feet, body coordination, synchronization, and chemistry between the leader and the follower."

But if Shirley did have any plans to hang up her Strictly paddle, she would be unlikely to announce it halfway through a series and disrupt the dancers and their pro partners.

She is 5/1 to remain on the panel until 2028 or later.

Strictly's Sister Act

However, Shirley has admitted she would be "very grateful" for her time on Strictly if it were to end soon.

She told the publication: "If it was to end here tomorrow, I’d be very grateful for the trips that I’ve had. It’s been the trip of a lifetime, for sure."

_{Strictly Come Dancing attended the Pride of Britain Awards in October. (Image: PA Images / Alamy)}

And if she were to waltz away into the sunset, who would replace her?

If Shirley does soon depart the show, then some believe that Craig Revel Horwood, who is the longest-serving current panellist, could step into the head judge role, meaning Strictly would only need to find a regular panellist to fill Shirley's spot.

When Bruno Tonioli left the series, Strictly replaced him with one of the show's professional dancers, Anton Du Beke.

If BBC bosses were to go down a similar route, then there are plenty of pros past and present they could call upon, and one has a strong connection to the panel already.

Oti Mabuse is currently taking part in ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but if she departs the jungle to find out there is a vacant spot on the Strictly judging panel, she might need an earlier flight home from Australia.

The former Strictly pro has a family connection on the panel, as her sister Motsi Mabuse is currently one of the judges.

But Oti also knows all about the programme from her time as a pro, which spanned from 2015 to 2021.

Oti is the early 13/8 favourite to replace Shirley on the panel, but one stumbling block could be her ITV commitments, including as a judge on Dancing on Ice.

Amy's New Role

One of the Strictly stories of the series so far has been Amy Dowden's return to the dancefloor.

The star resumed her job as a pro dancer on the BBC show after a year off when she was battling breast cancer. However, Amy, who was partnered with JB Gill, recently had to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury, leaving her devastated.

If Shirley was to depart the panel and Craig took on the head judge mantle, then Amy would be a fantastic addition as a judge, and she would surely be a huge fan favourite.

She is 2/1 to take on the role, while Dancing With The Stars host, American dancer Julianne Hough, is 5/2, and Carrie Ann Inaba, one of the judges on the US show, is a 4/1 chance to relocate to the UK.

What's more, Janette Manrara (3/1) would no doubt be in the conversation if a judging spot was vacant.

Since departing the show as a pro dancer, she has remained close to the programme and now hosts spin-off show It Takes Two.

If the BBC want to go with a fairly outspoken judge, then former pro dancer Ola Jordan (9/2) might be the answer.

She regularly gives her opinion on social media about the various eliminations and questions them if she has differing thoughts.

Kristina Rihanoff (5/1) is another ex-Strictly pro who isn't usually shy when speaking about the show, as is ex-panellist Dame Arlene Phillips (10/1), who was one of the inaugural Strictly judges in 2004.

But one former Strictly judge who has expressed an interest in a return is Dame Darcey Bussell.

The retired ballet dancer was initially a guest judge in 2009's seventh series, but she returned to the panel permanently in 2012 to replace Alesha Dixon, and she would be up for another comeback, but not full-time.

When asked on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2021 whether she'd be keen to return to the Strictly panel, she said, "It would be lovely to be a guest judge or something.

"I've had lots of other jobs, and I've really enjoyed all of the different things I do.

"It was a great commitment; the nice thing was it really celebrated dance in a great way. It was great for the ballet world to have a judge as a ballerina."

Darcey is 7/1 to replace Shirley permanently on the panel, narrowly ahead of 8/1 chance Alesha.

But whoever fills in for Shirley when her position becomes available should expect a similar social media backlash if anyone disagrees with their judging decisions.