Strictly Come Dancing star Dame Shirley Ballas says her raunchy new book was given the royal seal of approval following its October 2023 publication.
The professional ballroom dancer wrote glossy thriller Murder On The Dancefloor – her fictional debut and part one of a planned series titled The Sequin Mysteries – with the help of author Sheila McClure.
And Ballas, 63, admits she was stunned after receiving a congratulatory letter from the Queen consort.
She told the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin radio: ‘When I wrote my book, Murder on the Dancefloor, I sent it to Camilla.
‘I thought, ‘”Oh, I’m not sure I’ll get a reply”. She wrote me the most beautiful letter back, handwritten and it’ll be framed and put on my wall.’
Strictly Come Dancing star Dame Shirley Ballas says her raunchy new book was given the royal seal of approval following its October 2023 publication
Ballas admits she was stunned after receiving a congratulatory letter from the Queen consort
Of the book’s racy content, she added: ‘I wouldn’t open it on an aeroplane if anybody else can read it, because there are some very saucy scenes. I’d like to know what Camilla thinks about those sexy saucy scenes.’
Ballas admitted she sent the book in the hope of encouraging Camilla, a Strictly Come Dancing fan, to visit the show’s studio at Elstree in Hertfordshire.
‘I just thought she might enjoy a behind-the-scenes.,’ she said. ‘[I] believe she’s got the most amazing sense of humour and I know she loves the show.’
The show judge also recalled their last royal visit, from the Princess of Wales and and her three children, Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte.
She said: ‘[Last year] it was Kate with the three children and they were absolutely divine.
‘Their behaviour was beautiful and it was Halloween week, so I gave them little crowns and the little boy, Louis, I gave him some sweets, but he wanted a crown, and they were just fabulous. The whole day was spectacular.
‘The thing was that, you know, people were all a little bit nervous, but they were so relaxed, and the children were running around and they got to sit in all the seats of the judges. It was fantastic. We were welcoming and they were very, very beautiful human beings.’
Ballas reflected on the royal visit after backing former colleague Giovanni Pernice following a BBC probe into allegations of ‘serious misconduct’ on the show.
The professional ballroom dancer wrote glossy thriller Murder On The Dancefloor – part one of a planned series titled The Sequin Mysteries – with the help of author Sheila McClure
Ballas has hailed Giovanni as a ‘true gentleman’ and claimed, ‘The truth will come out.’ (Anton Du Beke, left, and Pernice)
The Strictly head judge spoke at Hertfordshire’s Chorleywood Memorial Hall on Monday while promoting her new book
For weeks executives have been investigating claims that professional dancer Giovanni, who recently lost his spot on the show, behaved ‘abrasively’ to his celebrity partner, Amanda Abbington.
And now, head judge Ballas has hailed Giovanni as a ‘true gentleman’ and claimed that ‘the truth will come out’.
Speaking at Hertfordshire’s Chorleywood Memorial Hall on Monday while promoting her new book, she said: ‘My feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation or whatever it is they are doing and the truth will come out.
‘So we don’t judge anybody until I know absolutely 100 per cent. I won’t pass on the gossip unless I know 100 per cent it is true.
‘I have never, ever, ever experienced any ill will or bad feeling or bad sportsmanship or rudeness from him. He will be missed.’
