Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas says she is afraid to leave her own home after receiving death threats and ‘pictures of coffins’ from online trolls

Shirley Ballas says vile death threats have left her afraid to leave her own home – just over a fortnight after returning to Strictly Come Dancing.

The professional dancer has resumed her judging role on the long-running BBC show after it returned with its twenty-first series on September 23.

But sinister social media messages targeting Ballas, 63 – many of which are threatening or sexual in nature – have raised concerns for her safety and left her fearing people are “lurking in dark corners or hiding behind walls”.

Appearing on new show Olivia Attwood vs The Trolls, she said: ‘I’ve had people draw coffins with me in them with someone with a shovel saying “Die you b**ch”.

‘It’s when it’s personal about myself and my family and it affects my mental health. I’m not just talking about your phone.’

She added, “I’m talking about being in public. You worry about those same strange people who write these kinds of messages.

‘Do they hide in dark corners? Do they hide behind walls when you go somewhere?’

Ballas admits that she is always on alert as a result of the reports, but also harbors a certain sympathy for those responsible.

‘Sometimes I lie there at night and wonder: Are they suffering? Are they lonely? Do they find it funny?’ she said.

‘This whole experience has made me much more vigilant. I can’t say I’m leaving my front door unless I’m clear. I never relax. I would say it has completely changed my life.’

In August, Ballas recalled how she was forced to seek help after suffering a barrage of vicious abuse during the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Although she has returned to the 2023 series, she previously opened up about how she even toyed with the idea of ​​not coming back.