Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas gives update on mother’s cancer diagnosis

Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas has given an update on her mum’s cancer diagnosis.

The ballroom dancer, who has been head judge on the BBC dancing competition ever since Len Goodman left back in 2017, has spoken about how her mother is managing during the countrywide coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking to TV presenter Gaby Roslin as she hosted an Instagram show for HELLO! Magazine, Shirley said, "My mother is self-isolating up north, she didn't want to come down and self-isolate with me”.

"My mum has cancer, she's self-isolating,” continued Shirley. “I have to say, I got very cross with BT today. Somehow her phone line has been off for nine days, I've called every single day, they have not helped, she's vulnerable, she's 83 years of age but they assure me that it will be on by Tuesday. That's ten days without a phone”.

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Speaking about her concerns surrounding her elderly mother, Shirley continued, "You know, you worry about your parents when they are in their eighties, what if they fall? How do they alert a neighbour if they don't have a phone?"

"But my mum, if I call her, she is your inevitable bright, 'I'm in the garden, I'm cleaning the windows, I'm doing the washing, I'm changing the beds.'

“She is bright as a button,” she went on. “You will never hear out of my mother a negative word and I take that from her. It's important to be honest but no one wants to listen to Debbie Downers all the time, there's enough of her in the world, you know?"

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The TV star first opened up about her mum’s cancer diagnosis back in 2018.

Speaking to the Mirror she revealed that her mother had chosen not to undergo, adding, "she was diagnosed earlier this year. But she’s a trouper and we are dealing with it.

“I came over to her in the summer to take care of her and I had to learn to be a nurse."