Shirley Ballas reckons the class of Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will be the “off the charts”.

Fans of the BBC show can’t wait to see who has signed up to strut their stuff in sequins after the professionals were announced earlier this month.

Strictly has been surrounded by controversy amid the allegations made about Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour in the training room – which he denies. However, when asked who we can expect to see fluffing the fox trot or relishing the rumba, Shirley, who recently appeared on Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show on ITV, promised we’re in for a treat.

Shirley Ballas is returning to her role on Strictly Come Dancing along with fellow judge, Anton Du Beke ( 
Image:
BBC/Guy Levy)
She teased that the line-up will be revealed “rather soon” and is expecting the announcements to start coming in July – adding that she thinks people will be delighted with this year’s cast.

“It’s going to be absolutely off the chart,” she said. “Just when you think the show can’t get any better, it does. We’ve got a great professional line-up, of course,” she added. “Tess [Daly] and Claudia [Winkleman] are back.”

Of course, one famous face who won’t be wowing fans with their cha cha cha is Giovanni. The Strictly professional has been given the chop amid the allegations surrounding his behaviour in the training room.

Many of the Strictly family have stayed silent as the BBC investigates claims made by his former partner on the show, Amanda Abbington, who recently branded the Sicilian-born star, “nasty”.

However, Shirley has defended Giovanni, saying the “truth will come out”. Speaking to the Mirror, she said: “I know he is a hard worker. He wants the people to do the very best that they can do.”

She further commented, “Obviously in my life I was bullied a lot. I don’t condone bullying on any path but also I don’t believe gossip and what you read in the newspapers because things get escalated and they are blown way out of all proportion and it can turn into a great big snowball.

“So my feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation or whatever it is they are doing and the truth will come out. We don’t judge anybody until I know absolutely 100 per cent. I won’t pass on the gossip unless I know 100 per cent it is true.”

Shirley continued: “I have never ever, ever experienced any ill will or bad feeling or bad sportsmanship or rudeness from him. He will be missed.”

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Following claims of improper conduct in the workplace involving Giovanni during the previous series of the show, the BBC has initiated an inquiry into the matter. Sherlock star, Amanda, who was paired with the Italian last year, left the competition after five weeks, amidst speculation of disagreements with her dance partner.

Post-show, the actress reported the experience had led to her suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Amanda’s legal team has reportedly requested footage of the duo’s rehearsal and training sessions to aid their lawsuit, while other celebrities including Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh, who were partnered with Giovanni in past seasons, are also said to have come forward.