Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show

Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show

As a long-time fan of Strictly Come Dancing, I must say this 20th anniversary series has been quite the rollercoaster ride, even before the first dance was stepped upon! It seems that behind the sequins and glitter, there’s a storm brewing, tainting the show with scandal.


As I eagerly prepare for the upcoming live broadcast of Strictly, I couldn’t resist sharing a moment of my routine – a bracing dip in an icy cold bath, displaying my impressive physique under the chill.

64-year-old TV judge shared a video on Instagram, where she’s seen jumping into an ice bath while wearing a bright yellow swimsuit.

The fashionable swimsuit accentuated her sleek silhouette, featuring an open neckline at the front and a design that exposed her lower back.

In the video, the main character gathered her courage by taking several deep breaths before gradually descending into the dive pool.

The ballroom dancer, who went makeup-free for the cold water therapy session, had a shocked expression on her face as she hit the water and lowered her arms in. 

Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show

Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show

Initially, she found it tough to endure water chilly enough for six degrees during her cold water therapy sessions. However, her body has since acclimated remarkably well, allowing her to tolerate a frosty three-degree temperature now.

In the video, she mentioned that it was the start of Strictly for the day, and she had already completed her workout, preparing to jump into her pool.

Referring back to a pair of trousers she found uncomfortable before, Shirley mentioned: ‘Weren’t those trousers a bit snug on me?’

She stated: ‘I will share them today, and I can assure you that the outcomes, which I committed to improving during the performance, will have significantly improved by then.’

She declared, “I’m jumping in now, it’s freezing! I’ll need to breathe often. This is quite a deep breath!” As she courageously submerged herself into the chilly plunge pool.

After finding her comfort spot in the pool, Shirley shared her advancement, saying, “Initially, I began at a temperature of 6 degrees. Since then, I moved to 4 degrees, and now today, I’ve dropped down to 3 degrees, meaning I’m getting progressively colder.

Playfully, she remarked with a chuckle, “Mental fortitude,” before taking a deep breath and gathering her resolve to immerse herself fully in the icy cold bath below.

This coming Saturday, all fifteen pairs will take the stage for the first time with the goal of impressing the judges. Their pairings were made public last week.

Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show
Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show
Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show

This year, as the couples get ready for their premiere on the BBC ballroom, the initial tunes and moves from the upcoming series have likewise been disclosed.

Prior to the live performance on Saturday, host Tess Daly shared a peek at the dances that viewers will see.

Sending a voice note to husband Vernon Kay on his BBC Radio 2 Show, she said: ‘Hi Vern, the excitement is palpable in the studio today. 

Tomorrow night’s show will truly be an exceptional event, as it marks the very first time that all fifteen celebrities will perform a live dance routine.

Costume arrangements are being made, tanning appointments scheduled. We have not one but two sambas, and the first dance with the samba is proving to be quite a challenge. So, it should make for an exciting performance!

“We have the cha-cha dance, and let me emphasize that Paul Merson’s American Smooth routine is definitely worth watching – I’m absolutely serious about it.

We’re absolutely thrilled for you to witness the fruits of these talented celebrities’ labor in the gym. The upcoming show is going to be spectacular! Join us tomorrow at 7 o’clock!

Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show

This year, which has been marked by numerous controversies, the 20th anniversary edition of Strictly has faced some unwanted attention due to the BBC show being entangled in a scandal.

During its initial broadcast, the BBC did not tackle the ongoing scandal, as the findings from the misconduct investigation were yet to be released.

Things started back in October when Amanda Abbington, an actress, abruptly left the show, later alleging that her partner, Giovanni Pernice, had been abusive towards her.

In simpler terms, the actress who plays Sherlock Holmes has raised several allegations concerning Giovanni’s teaching techniques, labeling them as unjustified, harmful, harsh, and unkind. However, Giovanni firmly rejects every single one of these accusations.

Johnny, aged 33, has been temporarily removed from his position as investigators at the BBC look into claims made by Amanda and two other ex-celebrity companions.

He has vehemently denied the claims. 

It seems that, as the report on his misconduct is expected soon, it’s said that Amanda feels extremely disheartened towards the BBC management due to concerns that they might be shielding the dancer during the ongoing investigation into bullying.

Strictly's Shirley Ballas, 64, shows off her incredible figure in a yellow swimsuit as she braves a dip in a freezing plunge pool ahead of the first live show

In response to potential legal issues, top executives at the BBC are brainstorming strategies to share their results, as both Amanda and Giovanni might take legal action if they’re unsatisfied with the outcome.

Following Giovanni, the program encountered a new surge of controversy when Graziano Di Prima was dismissed in July, allegedly for physically confronting Love Island star Zara McDermott.

Zara explained that she didn’t report the incidents at the time as she was ‘scared’ of backlash. 

Instead, it was the junior production team members who stepped forward to disclose what they had observed during the ongoing investigation involving dance pro, Giovanni.

Zara shared with her audience that although being on Strictly was as wonderful as she had ever imagined, there were specific occurrences within the training room with Graziano that proved extremely upsetting.

Strictly Come Dancing’s first live show airs on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer. 

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2024-09-21 18:06

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