Shirley Ballas Makes Her DWTS Ambitions Clear: Strictly’s Toughest Judge Wants a Permanent Seat on the Panel – And She’s Asking Fans to Help Make It Happen

“Please do a petition!” Shirley Ballas has made no secret of her desire to return to Dancing with the Stars every week after her controversial guest judging appearance. And judging by her reaction to fans’ demands, she is more than ready to make the move permanent.

Shirley Ballas may have divided viewers with her famously tough scoring during Dancing with the Stars’ Horror Movie Night, but the experience clearly left her wanting more.

The ballroom expert, who has been the notoriously strict head judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since 2017, joined Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli on the DWTS panel. Her scores raised eyebrows, with two couples receiving just four points and another earning a five – marking the lowest scores ever handed out during week seven of the competition.

Yet the criticism hasn’t put Ballas off. Quite the opposite.

Just one day after her guest appearance, on Wednesday, October 28, she openly admitted that she would love to become a permanent member of the judging panel.

Ballas Urges Fans to Start a Petition

Appearing alongside Derek Hough on Extra, Ballas revisited her DWTS experience while reading reactions from viewers on social media.

One fan made their feelings unmistakably clear, writing: “I’m already begging for Shirley Ballas to be a judge every week. We need her energy.”

Ballas immediately seized on the suggestion, looking directly into the camera with an enthusiastic appeal of her own.

“Please do a petition. I would love to judge every week. I’d get to do all the dancing, talk to the viewers at home, and see my grandson — Banksi with an i, Wylde with a y — every week.”

Her response revealed another major attraction of the role: spending more time with her nearly three-year-old grandson, Banksi Wylde.

The little boy is the son of Ballas’ own son, DWTS professional dancer Mark Ballas, and his wife, singer-songwriter BC Jean. The couple live in the Los Angeles area.

And when another viewer simply demanded, “Bring her on permanently,” Ballas didn’t hesitate to agree.

“Please! I’d love that.”

Ballas Pushes Back Against Criticism of Her Scoring

Her enthusiasm for a permanent role wasn’t the only talking point from the interview.

Ballas also addressed one of the biggest complaints surrounding her Horror Movie Night appearance: whether contestants performing contemporary routines had enjoyed an unfair advantage over those dancing ballroom and Latin styles.

One viewer argued that if DWTS invited the queen of Latin ballroom to judge, contestants should all be performing Latin ballroom routines.

“Fair is fair,” the fan insisted.

But Ballas wasn’t convinced.

“Well, actually, I don’t agree,” she responded, defending her approach to judging across different dance disciplines.

She explained that contemporary dance still requires judges to assess movement, musicality, coordination, synchronization, posture and how performers land on their feet.

“Whether you’re doing ballroom, Latin, tap, ballet, contemporary or jazz or Argentine tango, my dear,” she added.

It was a firm defence of her judging philosophy, making clear that she believes strong dancing should be evaluated on its technical and performance qualities, regardless of the style.

A Permanent DWTS Role May Not Be So Far Away

Ballas joining the American competition on a more regular basis might not be such an unlikely prospect.

She has already been spending time in the United States for another DWTS-related project. During the summer, she and Mark Ballas filmed ABC’s new series, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, where mother and son both served as judges.

That experience has given her another connection to the American franchise, while her latest guest appearance has seemingly strengthened her enthusiasm for the main competition.

For now, however, viewers will have to wait and see whether her wish for a permanent judging position becomes reality.

When Is the Next DWTS Episode?

Dancing with the Stars Season 35 returns with its next live episode on Monday, November 2, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Actress and singer Cynthia Erivo will take over the guest judging seat for the upcoming instalment.

And after Ballas made her ambitions so clear, fans may well be wondering whether this is the last time they will see her on the DWTS panel – or whether a return could be on the cards.