Strictly's Shirley Ballas shares heartache as she prepares for 'rainbow baby'

14 October 2023 , 18:44

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Strictly head judge Shirley admitted she struggled to continue on the show last season (Image: Getty Images)

Shirley Ballas says the secret heartache she suffered during last year’s Strictly Come Dancing has been tempered as she looks forward to the arrival of son Mark’s new baby.

Head judge Shirley, 63, admitted she had struggled to continue on the show after Mark’s wife, rock singer BC Jean, suffered a miscarriage. And as the couple prepare to welcome their “rainbow baby” within weeks, Shirley has told of her plans to fly out to the US to help as soon as she is asked.

She said: “We’re calling this baby Rainbow, because my daughter-in-law lost a baby last year. “I was on Strictly and couldn’t fly over to them, which was devastating. I found it difficult to get through the show.

“Mark was on Dancing with the Stars and having to turn up for work, crushed. “I knew how crushed he was but I couldn’t tell anyone.”

Shirley's son Mark Ballas with BC Jean (Getty Images)

Shirley will jet to the US when the baby is born (Getty Images for The National Lottery)

Musician and dancer Mark wed American wife BC in 2016, a year after the pair formed rock duo Alexander Jean together. Shirley, whose brother David took his own life in 2003, said of the miscarriage: “I haven’t heard my mother sob like that since her own son died – I think it brought those feelings back. It was tough – there were lots of tears.

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“But Mark and BC wrote the most incredible song, Rainbow, about their loss. I’m so excited about this baby and I think I’m going to be the best Grandma – or Glamma – in the world. I’m definitely going to spoil them.”

With the baby due at the end of the month, Shirley said she is ready to drop everything to jet to the US. But she said: “I want to give them their space, so I’m waiting until they’re ready to ask. I want to let them get their family together and experience this newborn. “Of course if Mark rang and asked me tomorrow, I’d go. I’m just hoping they don’t wait till Rainbow is 18.”

Laura Armstrong