BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Shirley Ballas forever scarred by tragic loss as she shares health warning

Shirley Ballas was thrilled to be back in her home region this week to support a cause close to her heart. The Strictly Come Dancing head judge, who hails from Wallasey, arrived at Oh Me Oh My on Wednesday to lend her voice to Let's Dance for COPD.

The initiative is led by healthcare company, Sanofi, to encourage people suffering with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to remain physically and socially active. The cause is particularly important to Shirley as her mum, Audrey Rich, was diagnosed with COPD two years ago.

The 64-year-old lives with her mum in London and told the ECHO in an exclusive interview about how difficult it can be when her mum is struggling with symptoms of the condition, which can cause severe breathlessness. She said: "When she's coughing, she cannot breathe. The first time I ever saw her cough to where she couldn't even breathe, I felt like her whole throat had closed off.

"I was gently trying to massage and trying to help her. I've seen it first hand of what it exactly can do. So it's important, first of all, we always check in on people that may have that condition, but, for their mental health, to keep exercising, keep moving and getting yourself out, even if it's only to and from the gate."

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COPD is the third biggest killer in the UK and Shirley said the condition particularly weighs on her mind as her family has a history with respiratory issues. She added: "[My nan] literally dropped dead just from an asthma attack. She'd gone into the garage because she was embarrassed.

"She didn't want to tell her husband or her sister-in-law that she was feeling unwell and she literally just died." Shirley will always be scarred by the loss and revealed a tragic turn of fate as her grandad was on an oxygen tank at the time due to his own respiratory illness. Shirley said it will always stick with her how this would have been able to save her nan if she hadn't felt the stigma attached to a public coughing fit.

She told the ECHO: "If she would have spoken up, there was an oxygen machine right there. She could have got some oxygen, so I always have that in the back of my mind about my nan and I don't want that to happen to my mum."

Shirley's mum is aged 87 and has had trouble coming to terms with her diagnosis as she still insists on maintaining her own independence and doing all the household chores. Shirley laughed the two bicker as she is overprotective of her mum's welfare.

She said: "In the morning she goes down for a puff of her cigarette and I get paranoid if she doesn't pick up her phone because I wonder what on Earth's going on. Particularly now that she's not well as we go into the winter months.

"I've got this paranoia about whether she's going to become breathless when I'm not there. I'm just so nervous that something will happen on my watch if I'm not vigilant to be following up on it all the time. She basically tells me to whatnot off and stop fussing."

According to the NHS, the main cause of COPD is from smoking cigarettes, but Shirley admitted her mum will not follow doctor's orders to completely quit the habit. She said: "She's been told to give it up, but she looks at me straight in the eye and goes 'don't take away my one pleasure at 87'. So we have to work around it. Maybe two puffs instead of a packet.

"She's smoked all her life. I lie on her chest when we go to bed at night to watch Quest and Coronation Street. And the wheezing of the chest I find quite upsetting and overwhelming. Of course, I've had to get used to it but it actually has an affect on me because I look at her and I feel sorry in a way, but she gets on with it because it will not change. The doctor told her, 'It will not get better'."

Shirley explained this stubbornness is part of her mum's make-up and also drives the strong spirit that means she remains so active and independent well into her 80s. The head judge laughed she wouldn't change it for anything as she heaped praise on their special bond. She said: "I wish she would just follow directions, but she will say to me, 'you are still my daughter, I am not your child'.

"'Don't boss me about.' That's what she says to me on a daily basis. I'm always a little bit sceptical about going in too hard as she will let me have it. I don't want to see her upset and I don't want to get upset."

Shirley has been instilled with her mum's strong pride and the traits she inherited from her Merseyside upbringing have been vital in smashing down class barriers to become a household name on Strictly. She said: "I came from a single parent family on a housing estate. My mother taught me work ethic, never give up and where there's a will, there's a way."

Shirley joined the hit BBC show in 2016 and is part of this season's Merseyside takeover as Sam Quek and Chris McCausland have both featured on the Strictly line-up this year. The judge is honoured to represent her home region on one of the most watched shows on TV as she said: "I'm very proud to be from the North of England.

"We were blessed with Sam's work, she was amazing. Chris being completely blind and not even being able to see shadows is one of the most phenomenally amazing things I've ever witnessed in my entire life."

However, Shirley said her Merseyside allegiance will never influence her vote as she stayed tight lipped on who she thinks will be crowned this season's winner. Shirley regularly hits back at claims from online trolls that she has her favourites, but said this is sadly part and parcel of her role in the limelight.

She added: "It's not even just my impartiality, they have a go at my body, my looks, my figure, it goes beyond dancing when people troll you. I just can't help it. I have to write it and have a little bit of a go back."

Although Shirley remains busier than ever with her career, she always makes sure to fit in her charity work as she backed the COPD event at her most hectic time of the year when Strictly is in flow. At the event on Wednesday, Shirley led a light dance session with COPD sufferers to highlight the importance of movement.

The dancer has collaborated with physiotherapists, medical experts, a choreographer, Asthma and Lung UK, to create a bespoke movement programme to support people living with COPD to help build up their activity levels. The head judge's main message was to warn people suffering with COPD to stay active, but admitted this is a good rule for anyone, as constantly being on the go is the key to her own longevity.

On how she stays young and glamorous in her 60s, Shirley said: "I like to exercise, I have a mother who is quite vain as well so you never go out without your makeup on. You've always got to look respectable. Just generally trying to take care of myself. I do a few Neo treatments and, I'm not going to lie, I get a little Botox twice a year.

"I don't shy away from anything that I want to do to myself or my body. I say that to any person out there. You do what makes you feel the most comfortable."

Shirley has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon as her new novel will soon be released and a dream film collaboration with her son, Mark Ballas, is planned for next year. The Merseyside native vowed to always stay true to the mantra that has kept her in good stead throughout her life as she looks forward to the next chapter of juggling her glittering career with caring for her beloved mum.

She added: "I just like to keep moving. Even if you have to have a check chat with yourself, which is what I often like to do. Talk to myself. Keep it moving and let's check in on those who are less fortunate than yourself or who are on their own."