By Lucy Caulkett–
Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas has revealed she “really thought that was it” after choking on a fish bone shortly before Saturday’s (November 22) Blackpool extravaganza.
The head judge feared she was going to die in a “terrifying” moment as she was getting ready for week nine of the BBC dancing competition.
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The 65-year-old said she “couldn’t breathe” for 20 minutes and thought it was the “end” as the fish bone was “lodged” in her throat.
However, it was Shirley’s make-up artist Jane Burstow, who saved her life, after performing the Heimlich manoeuvre – the pair have worked together for almost a decade.Shirley Ballas reveals ‘terrifying’ moment she thought it was the ‘end’
In a video posted on her Instagram stories, Shirley explained: “I choked on a fishbone. It got lodged in my throat, and my wonderful Jane, who has been with me for nine years, did the Heimlich manoeuvre, and we got the bone out. But for 20 minutes there, it was lodged and I couldn’t breathe, it was terrifying.”
She added: “I’m going to study now in case I ever come across anybody who needs my help so gratitude to Jane because I panicked, I really thought that was it – the end – amen.”
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Shirley captioned the video: “We’d have been a judge down tonight if it wasn’t for her.”
Sharing a health update from her yoga class on Sunday (November 23), Shirley said she was “good” but her throat was a “bit hoarse”.
Strictly fans said they were “so pleased” Shirley was okay after the “scary” moment over the weekend.
Someone commented on Instagram: “So pleased that you are ok, must have been a scary moment. Huge thanks to the team for helping you.”
Shirley’s petrifying ordeal came just before hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced that La Voix had had withdrawn from Strictly due to a foot injury.
The 45-year-old RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, pulled out of the show, having initially been given a bye to the next round of the competition after the injury was announced last weekDue to this, there was no elimination yesterday evening.
Speaking at the start of Saturday’s episode, Tess said: “Now, as you may have heard, La Voix sustained an injury, meaning that she can’t dance in Blackpool tonight, and following further advice from our medical team, we can now confirm she has very sadly had to withdraw from the competition.”
“My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas. Thank you for every cheer, every vote, and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish this forever.”
Shirley Ballas began dancing at age seven in her hometown of Wallasey, England. She dedicated her youth to competitive dancing, moving away from home at 14 to pursue her passion. Over her two-decade-long competitive career, she trained in various styles including Ballroom, Latin, American Smooth, and Ballet.
She achieved immense success with two different dance partners and husbands, Sammy Stopford and Corky Ballas. The partnership with Corky was particularly successful, leading them to move to Houston, Texas, and win numerous US titles.
After retiring from competitive dancing in 1996, Ballas became one of the most sought-after and respected dance coaches and adjudicators in the world, mentoring top professional and amateur dancers, including her son Mark Ballas, and Derek and Julianne Hough during their time in London. In 2017, she was announced as the new head judge for Strictly Come Dancing, a role in which she has gained widespread popularity.
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