Strictly Come Dancing 2018: Shirley Ballas shrugs off Craig Revel Horwood pay jibe
STRICTLY’S top judge Shirley Ballas has played down talk of tensions with Craig Revel Horwood after he said she deserved lower pay.
Craig Revel Horwood disagrees with Shirley Ballas' pay row
But what would you say to a woman coming in after you’ve been in the job for 15 years when they’ve done absolutely nothing to earn it? I don’t think that’s right.
The BBC paid Shirley, 57, £180,000 last year, but boosted it by £70,000 to match predecessor Len Goodman’s £250,000 wage after the gender pay row.
Fellow judge Craig, 53, said last month: “I think women should be paid the same as men.
“But what would you say to a woman coming in after you’ve been in the job for 15 years when they’ve done absolutely nothing to earn it? I don’t think that’s right.”
In an interview in Good Housekeeping today, Shirley, said: “Craig was the first one to send me flowers.
Shirley Ballas on Strictly lineup: The BBC NEVER get it wrong
“His bark is worse than his bite – he’s a total sweetheart!”
The head judge said of her relationship with Darcey Bussell: "It's unusual don't you think? I think it's really quite nice, two able women who are completely different from each other, but have this amazing chemistry."
Her comments come after Ballas defended the new Strictly line-up of contestants over claims it lacks star power, saying "people need to give it a chance".
This year's line-up includes Blue singer Lee Ryan, cricketer Graeme Swann and presenter Katie Piper.