Strictly Come Dancing has revealed a dramatic shake-up to its voting system – with head judge Shirley Ballas no longer having the final say in all the dance-offs.
Shirley, 65, announced the surprise news during the first live show of the 2025 series. She told fans the “power” needs to be shared.
The two lowest-scoring couples always battle it out in the dance-off during Strictly Come Dancing: The Results. The judges – who also include Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood – then vote on who should stay and who should go home.
In the past, Shirley has always cast the deciding vote if the panel is split. But that is all going to change from now. The judges will be taking it on turn each week on a rota system.
Strictly hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, told viewers they will find out which judge will have the final say that week at the end of each Saturday night live show.
Why has the BBC changed Shirley’s ‘deciding vote’?
BBC bosses are believed to have made the change to keep Strictly Come Dancing unpredictable and fresh for viewers. But it is also thought it has been done to protect Shirley from online keyboard warriors who disagree with her decision.
Over the years, angry viewers have accused Shirley of making “sexist” decisions as a judge, particularly when saving male contestants over female ones. She has even received death threats from Strictly fans.
The head judge has previously spoken out about the toll trolls have taken on her mental health. Last year, she admitted to Radio Times: “I’m sitting there every weekend, thinking, Dear Lord, my saviour, please let the other three make the decision so it doesn’t come down to me.
“But somebody has to do this job and I try to send them home with as much confidence and affection as I can.”
Shirley appears delighted by the voting twist. Taking to X, she has responded to a viewer who had asked: “Wonder how Shirley felt about the head judge twist?” Shirley replied: “I got a call and I said: ‘Omg yes love it. I can’t wait to see Anton send someone home.'”
Shirley has also retweeted a member of the public who had posted on the social media site: “They’ve taken Shirley’s power away! I love it!!!”
‘Is it too late to run away?’
Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 celebrities were quick to share their feelings about the new shake-up to Shirley’s deciding vote.
Scottish showbiz presenter Ross King added: “I just can’t believe it!” While EastEnders actress, Balvinder Sopal, admitted: “I was nervous, but this is another level.”
But viewers have been more optimistic about the change. One fan praised it for being a “better, fair system for results”. Another added online: “A different judge getting the casting vote. This is a game changer.”
Someone else also wrote: “Oooh I like that, a new head judge final vote off choice each week, that’ll be interesting.”
When is the next episode of Strictly on?
Strictly Come Dancing continues this Saturday (October 4, 2025) at 6.20pm. The following night will be the first Strictly Come Dancing: The Results of the 2025 series. The Results show, featuring this week’s ‘head judge’, starts at 7.15pm.
Both will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Read more: Concerns for Strictly star Ellie Goldstein following first live show: ‘I hope she’s alright’
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