BBC Strictly judge to perform flying stunt to open tonight's show

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas is set to perform a dramatic stunt to open Saturday night's show

A BBC Strictly Come Dancing judge is set to perform a huge stunt at the start of tonight’s show.

Head judge Strictly Ballas will reportedly make a flying entrance into the studio after producers want to ‘jazz up’ the judges arrivals. The 64-year-old dancing pro is set to be suspended onto the dancefloor from wires attached to the ceiling.

Though she is the oldest judge on the show, Shirley is said to be ‘game for anything’ and immediately put her hand up when asked if they wanted to ‘fly into Strictly’ for Saturday’s opening extravaganza.

So should fans expect more dramatic performances from the other judges – Craig Revel Horwood, 59, Anton Du Beke, 58, and 43-year-old Motsi Mabuse – later on in the series? They’ll have to stay tuned...

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Speaking about Shirley’s star turn tonight, a source told The Sun: ‘Shirley might be close to claiming her bus pass, but she’s as fit as a fiddle and game for anything. When the BBC asked the judges if any of them wanted to fly into Strictly, Shirley said yes straight away!

“She loves making the show fun and this is going to look really impressive to the studio audience and viewers at home. Shirley nailed the dress rehearsal – and, as Craig Revel-Horwood would say, ‘It’s going to be Fab-u-lous!’”

And it looks like it’s going to become more of a regular thing, as for the first episode of the brand new Strictly series, the judges stunned with an ‘avant-garde gothic tango’. Donning dramatic outfits that made them look unrecognisable, they danced to a medley of Prince's When Doves Cry and New Order's Blue Monday.

During the epic dance, Shirley battled against her fellow judges to sit on the gold throne at the centre of the dancefloor. But it was Craig – dressed in a dark tailcoat, matching trousers, gold waistcoat and a white shirt, is seen sporting a blonde wig and a crown – that stole the show, appearing more panto villain in his get up.

As for this week’s celebs? Toyah Wilcox is the bookies’ favourite to be voted off this weekend. The 80s pop singer survived the dreaded dance-off with partner Neil Jones after coming bottom of the leaderboard – and was saved from the chop by judge Shirley, who had the deciding vote.

It’s Movie Week this weekend and Toyah and Neil are said to have been working hard on the Little Mermaid-themed Samba they are due to perform on Saturday night, with the singer insisting on Instagram that it was now up to her to “make the most of this and get it right”.

Neil added that his celebrity partner was “improving”. But the bookies are not so sure. Ex-footballer and pundit Paul Merson is most likely to face Toyah in this week’s dance-off. Next favourites to be eliminated are TV handyman Nick Knowles and his partner Luba Mushtuk on 5/1, and Pete Wicks and Jowitza Przystal with odds of 12/1.

*Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One at 6.25pm tonight

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