Strictly Come Dancing's judges Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood are having fun in the sun before BBC series is back
12:20, 27 Aug 2025Updated 12:21, 27 Aug 2025
Strictly Come Dancing judges Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas have headed on very different holidays ahead of the dance show’s return to BBC.
Outspoken Craig has been in Mallorca and posed with a bottle of champagne as he partied in the sun. He said: “Here’s to the calm before the sequin storm. Best of luck to the incoming celebrities. Topping up on the old vitamin sea to avoid the spray tan booth this winter.”
Meanwhile head judge Shirley has been to a Juice Masters retreat in Portugal so she looks her best on screen. She said: “It’s the best place on Earth. Getting into shape for the Strictly season ahead.”
The 64-year-old is gearing up for another glitzy ballroom season, and showcased her age-defying figure in a stylish multicoloured bikini as she soaked up the sun following a day packed with wellness activities
The resort is called Juicy Oasis and is described as a yoga and fitness retreat set deep inside Portugal and overlooks a magnificent wide flowing river and surrounded by deep forest.
Jason Vale who runs the retreat said: “Until you have actually been here, it’s impossible to truly appreciate the sheer magnitude of its beauty.”
Although Craig and Shirley have been able to relax, back home the professional and the new celebs picked for this series are already in training for the first show next month.
The BBC have also had to deal with a number of issues around the hit series.
BBC insiders insist the new Strictly Come Dancing series will continue as normal - despite a new crisis after one of its stars was arrested on suspicion of rape.
The male suspect, who has not been named for legal reasons, is also being questioned by police over allegations involving "non-consensual intimate image abuse".
The BBC confirmed to The Mirror that there is an "ongoing police investigation”. But sources at the corporation also insisted the allegations don’t involve anyone involved in this years series and for that reason they are confident the show, including training sessions, can carry on.
The new Met Police investigation follows a BBC-led inquiry into claims of drug abuse by stars on the show.
A Met spokesman said "On Friday, August 22, officers arrested a man on suspicion of rape and non-consensual intimate image abuse.
"This is a joint investigation... and while the investigation is in its early stages, we urge anyone with any information to come forward to us. The arrest follows a third party -allegation of sexual and drug-related offences. Enquiries are ongoing."
The alleged rape victim is being supported by specialist officers, he added.
The dramatic development - separate from the upcoming series - is one of the biggest crises to be faced by the BBC since newsreader Huw Edwards dodged jail last year for possessing indecent images of children.
A BBC spokesperson has told The Mirror: "It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing police investigation."
Strictly has been hit by a string of storms recently. Last year, dancer Giovanni Pernice quit after being accused of bullying and harassing 2023 partner Abbington. Some complaints against him were upheld but he was cleared of the most serious ones in a probe.
In the same series, the BBC pro Graziano Di Prima was removed over claims of misconduct towards partner Zara McDermott during training. And this year, Welsh opera singer Evans left the dance tour after being accused of making inappropriate remarks.
At the end of last week Kristian Nairn quit the show after just one week into rehearsals.
He will be replaced by Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope as BBC bosses scrambled to find a last-minute stand-in. Northern Ireland-born Kristian revealed he had quit in an emotional Instagram video.
The 49-year-old said: "Like so many people at the minute, I have been dealing with a high level of stress and a little bit of grief, if I'm going to be really real. I've always been my mother's son and I have always powered through things like this in the past and any other time of my life actually. Honestly, I think I've got a pretty healthy attitude towards stuff like this.
"I thought I did, at least. For the first time it's manifested physically and it's caused a spike in my vitals. It's entered an area of concern."
* If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
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