Shirley Ballas shows off weight loss transformation in time for new Strictly season

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has achieved a personal goal, having undergone an image transformation ahead of the show’s new series.

The beloved BBC dance show dazzled its way back onto screens last weekend with Chris McCausland, Sarah Hadland, Nick Knowles, Pete Wicks, Tasha Ghouri, Jamie Borthwick, and Sam Quek in the line-up.

Shirley also returned to her role as head judge, sitting alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke, ready to dish out feedback – and hopefully some 10s – in the coming weeks.

And the Wallasey-born dance star, 64, has a new lease of life ahead of Strictly’s 20th-anniversary season, having shed the weight she intended to lose before launch.

Taking to Instagram earlier today, Shirley – who joined Strictly in 2017 – posted a video, with the first half filmed in April, five months before Strictly 2024 commenced.

Shirley is seen attempting to squeeze into a pair of trousers, unable to fasten them.

Shirley Ballas achieved her weight loss goal ahead of Strictly’s new series (Picture: Rob Parfitt/BBC/PA Wire)

Shirley pictured ahead of Strictly 2023 (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

‘These are the trousers I had when I was 20 and, as you can see, they’re not quite zipped up… but they will be by Strictly, I can assure you,’ she says.

The second half of the video was filmed two days ago on September 19, with Shirley now comfortably wearing her old trousers two days before the first live show.

‘Thursday the 19th, just before Strictly, and I did say I wanted to get into these little trousers that I had… and here they are!’, she says, proudly lifting up her top to display their fit.

‘Zipped up, but it’s been some hard work,’ she sighs.

Shirley added that she is ‘thrilled with the results’ of her weight loss regime, concluding by flashing a smile to the camera from her dressing room.

Her caption read: ‘I said I’d fit in those trousers by @bbcstrictly didn’t I 🫶🏼💃🏻 … and tonight we’re back at 7pm x’

She managed to fit back into a pair of trousers she had when she was 20 (Picture: Instagram)

Shirley set herself the aim in April (Picture: Instagram)

In the comments, Strictly fans showered her with compliments, with martina.theresa.b writing: ‘I love that feeling! It gives you an incentive when they’re an old favourite! 🙌👏😍. You look smashing!’

‘You go, Shirley. Looking good lovely. 🙌❤️’, wrote karenacts.

Adding a reminder for the TV judge’s 336,000 followers, wardie1974 also wrote: ‘It shouldn’t matter what size the clothes are everyone is beautiful no matter what’.

Shirley isn’t the only Strictly star having transformed this year, as TV’s resident Mr Nasty, Craig, sported a new look last weekend.

The famously harsh dance critic was compared to the likes of Rylan Clark when he debuted a dashing beard, with presenter Tess Daly telling him: ‘Craig, I am loving the new look! Very nice!’

As for the contestants, DIY SOS star Nick has already lost two stone thanks to his intense training programme.

Craig Revel Horwood debuted a beard in the launch show (Picture: BBC)

Nick Knowles, pictured with Luba Mushtuk, has lost two stone already in rehearsals (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Appearing on Lorraine this week, the 62-year-old, who is paired with Luba Mushtuk, shared that he’s been training since July, admitting things were ‘really tough’ to begin with.

‘But little bit by little bit, Luba’s getting me up on my toes, making all 18 stone of me a little bit lighter on my feet!’, he said.

‘I’ve lost about 13 kilos probably so far!’

Go Compare opera singer Wynne Evans, 52, who weighed 23 stone two years ago, overhauled his lifestyle ahead of signing to Strictly as well.

Discussing how the series has helped him continue his weight loss journey, Wynne told Metro.co.uk and other press pre-launch: ‘It’s like a gift. Anybody who loses weight gets to that stage where they plateau, and I think it’s like the next kick on for me. And so I’m really enjoying it.’

Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Strictly favourite brushes off ‘curse’ rumours as her boyfriend is ‘hottest man on planet’

MORE : How Pete Wicks went from TV bad boy to much-loved Strictly star