Shirley Ballas faces judging conflict at ballroom championships over dancer link

Shirley Ballas, a Strictly Come Dancing judge, is reportedly at risk of losing her role at a rival international ballroom contest due to her close relationship with dancer Giuseppe Nonnis. The 66-year-old is set to judge the 36-year-old Italian at next week's International Championships, known as the "ballroom dance Olympics," sparking backlash from dancers who claim she will breach contest rules. Insiders say she previously scored him highly at the UK Open Dance Festival, and their bond developed after dancing together in Hong Kong and Blackpool. Competition rules bar adjudicators from judging a "de facto spouse" or household member, and sources claim Nonnis falls into this category after staying with Ballas in the UK. However, a source close to Ballas denies they share a household, asserting the rumoured relationship does not breach rules.