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Strictly's Shirley Ballas says Seann Walsh and Katya Jones kissing scandal should 'remain private'

Shirley Ballas (Credit: PA)

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has said that the tabloid furore over Seann Walsh and Katya Walsh should be kept a private matter, and should not affect the show.

Walsh and Jones hit the headlines on Sunday after pictures were published of them kissing after a boozy night out.

Jones is married to fellow Strictly dancer Neil Jones, while Walsh was in a long-term relationship, which has now ended.

Seann Walsh and Katya Jones (Credit: BBC)
Seann Walsh and Katya Jones (Credit: BBC)

Speaking on This Morning, Ballas said: “I don’t know any information that’s going on. I think people get on with their job, I judge the dancing and don’t pay attention to people’s private life.

“I’m there as an adjudicator to judge the dancing only, they’re going to dance on Saturday I believe, and I’ll be judging the dancing.

“I think things happen all the time in every industry, I feel like Strictly… is in the public eye and on television and gets a little more attention, I don’t think it’s necessarily because of Strictly.”

(Credit: BBC)
(Credit: BBC)

She added: “I shall go out on Saturday with everybody enjoying the show, and be ready to see the dancing, judging without fear or favour.”

Former judge Arlene Phillips has also defended the pair.

Appearing on Lorraine, she said: “They are consenting adults. The public appear to be the moral guardians.

“I’m not condoning what they’ve done at all. Unless they’ve signed some sort of disclosure that there is a behavioural contract, they are not going to stop what they’ve been hired to do, and that is dance.


“We all love Neil and Katya, there is a togetherness, in truth who knows what their relationship [is like]? I know many people who have open relationships.

“Those pro dancers know there’s cameras on them everywhere. None of us know the absolute details of what happened.”

Rumours circulating this week have suggested that the couple could be axed by show producers.

But a representative for the BBC show said: “No-one will be changing partners and it’s very much business as usual for all three.”

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