‘The most unpredictable Strictly ever!'

Before the celebs take to the floor for this week’s first live show, head judge Shirley Ballas talks to TV Times about a series full of surprises

- Emma Bullimore

As we watched the unexpected pairings revealed on this year’s Strictly launch show, head judge Shirley Ballas looked just as shocked as we were!

‘There were some real surprises in there,’ she tells TV Times. ‘I was trying to guess the match-ups with new judge Motsi [Mabuse] and we didn’t get any right. It’ll be the most unpredictable series ever!’

Now the celebrities and their partners have learnt their first dances, it’s finally time for us to see the glitzy class of 2019 take to the floor. As Shirley, 59, prepares to judge their efforts, she takes some time out to share her predictions with TV Times and to reveal how a new romance has changed her…

Were you surprised when you saw the pairings?

Yes! Normally you can judge by height or sometimes personality, but you couldn’t this time. Bubbly sports presenter Mike Bushell was jumping around all over the place like a little bean and then they put him with Katya Jones, this superdisciplined Russian lady! It was thrilling to see such a change – they certainly haven’t gone with predictability this year.

Are you excited to see fan favourite Anton Du Beke with one of this year’s frontrunners, EastEnders star Emma Barton?