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”.
MORE: Shirley Ballas reveals she is to undergo big operation in midst of Strictly
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?"
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."
Aleesha is digital shopping writer at woman&home - so whether you're looking for beauty, fashion, health or home buys, she knows all the best places to splash your cash. She earned an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London in 2017 after graduating from University of Leeds in 2014 with a BA in English and Spanish (which took her to Madrid for a fun Rioja and tapas-packed year). Aleesha has worked for woman&home since 2019, when she joined the team as their digital news writer. A year on the news team gained her quick and reactive writing skills and a love for breaking stories, invaluable insight into where to get the best lifestyle releases first, an AOP awards nomination and the nickname ‘crazy watch lady’ after she became so obsessed with the royals that she followed breaking news alerts on her Apple Watch.
Before joining the woman&home team, Aleesha wrote for their sister site GoodtoKnow, where she covered celebrity news, health advice and where to snap up the cheapest lifestyle buys. With a background in beauty, Aleesha has also written for Stylist and Women’s Health where she developed an understanding into what makes a stellar product and which brands are worth paying attention to. She never leaves the house without a slick of lip balm and a good slathering of SPF, cannot live without an eyelash curler by her side and is always on the hunt for new lipsticks to add to her ‘Lipstick of the Day’ Instagram story highlight (and color-coordinated collection).
But it’s not just beauty buys Aleesha can help you with. Social media savviness, strong PR relationships and a need to stay in the know mean she’s all about the latest fashions, clever gadgets and reliable lifestyle buys too. She loves indulging in an interior craze (with a bedroom drowned in prints, plants and pink), is a regular visitor to the Missoma and Edge of Ember 'New In' pages and can’t resist the allure of a kitchen gadget—just ask her three coffee machines.
When she’s not playing around with new products and testing anything she can get her hands on, Aleesha spends most of her time with her head in a current bestseller, catching up on the latest Netflix craze with her sister, trying out new recipes, drinking wine with her bestie and (in non-COVID times) has been known to be a bit of a jetsetter amongst her friendship group. Oh and she makes the most of her Disney+ subscription by watching the Marvel films on repeat (definitely not just for Chris Evans...).
Follow her latest shopping & lifestyle advice, beauty insights and social antics on Instagram at @aleeshabadkar.
Twitter: @aleeshabadkar
LinkedIn: aleesha-badkar
Email: aleesha.badkar@futurenet.com
-
-
Here are the skincare ingredients that you should never mix together
Follow these golden rules and you won't go wrong.
By Fiona McKim •
-
Is there a Christmas tree shortage? Experts reveal how to avoid missing out on a real tree this year
Experts have warned of a Christmas tree shortage—here's how to make sure you don't miss out
By Caitlin Elliott •
