This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Josie Gibson were left red-faced when a Spin To Win caller was accidentally rude to Shirley Ballas.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge was due to appear on Wednesday’s show later in the programme.
And for the caller to win the bag of This Morning goodies, the viewer, who had just won £3,000, was asked: ‘Which Strictly judge is next?’
He replied, ‘What’s her name? Shirley B*****d.’
Josie cheered and punched the air, while Holly turned red and corrected the caller: “Shirley Ballas.”
Blunder: Holly Willoughby and Josie Gibson this morning were left red-faced when a Spin To Win caller was accidentally rude to Shirley Ballas
Interview: The Strictly Come Dancing judge was due to appear on Wednesday’s show later in the programme
She added: “I think we should all listen to that, sorry if you heard something different there.”
Holly later apologized for the explicit comment when she said: ‘I think at that point he lost himself a little bit with his response and he might have said something that had slipped and we’re really sorry if you heard that. He didn’t mean it and also felt sorry for Shirley.’
Viewers were left confused but found the blunder amusing, with one token: ‘The highlight of the show is Shirley B*****d.’
Another said: ‘I thought he said Shirley Bassey lol’
It comes after Shirley said vile death threats have made her afraid to leave her own home – just over a fortnight after her return to Strictly.
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” .
In order for the caller to win the bag of This Morning goodies, the viewer, who had just won £3,000, was asked: ‘Which Strictly judge is next?’
Josie cheered and punched the air, while Holly turned red and corrected the caller: “Shirley Ballas.”
Viewers were left confused but found the blunder amusing, with one token: ‘The highlight of the show is Shirley B*****d.’
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.’
Concerns: Shirley says vile death threats have made her afraid to leave her own home – just over a fortnight after her return to Strictly Come Dancing
There she is: 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.
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.
In conversation with OK! magazine, she explained: ‘I’ve had gloomy and dark days all my life, but I’ve always had music and I’ve always danced. And of course I have my mother and we are glued at the hip.
‘What it (trolling) did to me in the last series, I wouldn’t want that for anyone.’
The star has been undergoing counseling for more than two decades.
Explaining her attitude towards the issue, she said: “I’m not ashamed to say that now, although I have thought so in the past because I thought people would think I was weak.
‘But you know what? Sometimes counseling is just about having someone to listen to you. So there is nothing wrong with seeking help.’
In an interview with The Times, the star opened up about the kind of cruel messages she received, with some users even accusing her of racist behavior.
She explained that they were comments like, “Just, how ugly you are, and how fat you are, and how you have terrible arms, and,” “You don’t like men.” You don’t like women. You don’t like black men. You don’t like black women.”
Ballas revealed that the racist accusations in particular were the hardest to deal with and while she may appear harsh on TV, it is just a facade.
“That’s a front,” she said. ‘Something I learned from my mother. ”Do not complain. Continue”.’