Shirley Ballas amazes 'Strictly' fans: 'I am very much a heavy metal fan'

Strictly Come Dancing’s head judge Shirley Ballas has shocked the show’s viewers by declaring herself a metalhead.

Ballroom dancing expert Ballas told comedian Bill Bailey that she was delighted he had brought Metallica to the Strictly studio for the first time, because it is her favourite type of music.

She made the surprising admission after Bailey and his partner Oti Mabuse’s Tango to the Metallica track Enter Sandman, the first time heavy metal had ever featured as music to dance to on the show.

Watch: Shirley Ballas forced to make the call on who goes home in week 6

Ballas told him: “I am very much a heavy metal fan, so I enjoyed it.”

She went on to criticise the usually high-scoring Bailey’s Tango, but ended by declaring: “But I love heavy metal!”

Viewers were surprised to hear of Ballas’s music preferences.

Dave Arch, who leads the Strictly live performers, was also a fan of Bailey and Mabuse’s choice of music this week.

During the semi-final, EastEnders star Maisie Smith finally got her first perfect score for her couple’s choice routine.

Ballas told her: “Spectacular, flawless, it will go down in history as one of he best numbers I’ve seen.”

Judge Motsi Mabuse added: “Well, I’ve been waiting all series for that, thank you.”

Read more: Katya Jones compares Seann Walsh kiss scandal to Brexit

Popstar HRVY also won a perfect score, his second of the series, for his Charleston.

Mabuse told him: “You’d better be careful they don’t ask you to come back next year as a pro.”

All five remaining contestants danced twice tonight to win a place in next week’s series final.

Bailey, Smith and HRVY went up against Ranvir Singh and Jamie Laing to bag themselves a shot at lifting the glitterball trophy.

Watch: Craig Revel Horwood talks filming Strictly in lockdown