Shirley Ballas reportedly faces calls to step down from judging dancer Giuseppe Nonnis
Reports say Strictly judge Shirley Ballas, 66, has grown close to Italian dancer Giuseppe Nonnis, 36, prompting calls for Ballas to stand down from judging an international ballroom contest in which Nonnis competes. A source close to Ballas says no rules are broken.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Shirley Ballas, a Strictly Come Dancing judge aged 66, could reportedly lose a judging role at an international ballroom contest because of speculation about Ballas's friendship with the Italian dancer Giuseppe Nonnis, 36. Evening StandardN “Shirley Ballas could reportedly risk losing her judging role at an international ballroom contest due to speculation over her friendship with dancer Giuseppe Nonnis.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1The Evening Standard, citing the Daily Mail and The Sun, reported that the pair have "grown close" and that the bond has drawn backlash from other dancers; the Standard said the bond reportedly developed after they danced together in Hong Kong and Blackpool earlier this year. Evening StandardN “Ballas’ bond with the professional dancer has sparked backlash from other dancers, the Daily Mail reported.”“Their close bond reportedly developed after they danced together in Hong Kong and Blackpool earlier this year.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Sources told the Daily Mail that Ballas would breach contest rules by judging Nonnis at the International Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, where Nonnis is due to compete in the Professional Latin category; insiders also claimed Ballas had scored Nonnis highly at the UK Open Dance Festival months earlier. Evening StandardN “Nonnis is set to perform in the Professional Latin category at the Royal Albert Hall event.”“Ballas previously scored him highly at the UK Open Dance Festival just months before they grew closer, insiders claimed.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The rules bar a contestant from entering if an immediate family member or someone from the same household is on the judging panel, and The Sun reported that Nonnis had stayed at Ballas's south-east London home when in the UK, so could fall into that category. Evening StandardN “According to the rules, a contestant may not enter the competition if a member of their immediate family or the same household is on the judging panel.”“Nonnis had been staying with Ballas at her home in south-east London when he was in the UK and therefore could fall into this category, The Sun reported.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1A source in the dance community said organisers were aware of the concerns but "nothing has been done", while a source close to Ballas said Nonnis does not live with Ballas and they do not share a household, so no rules would be breached. Evening StandardN “"This issue is widely discussed within the professional dance community and the organisers are aware of the concerns, but so far nothing has been done.”“a source close to the Strictly judge told the publication Nonnis does not live with her and they do not share a household, meaning their friendship would not breach the rules.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Nonnis's former fiancée, the dancer Daria Chesnokova, told The Sun she introduced the two and would feel "betrayed" if they were dating; Nonnis, who grew up in Cagliari and lives in Hong Kong, has said Ballas inspired him since childhood. The Standard said Ballas has been ostensibly single since splitting from fiancé Danny Taylor in 2024 and that it had contacted Ballas's representative for comment. Evening StandardN “Chesnokova told The Sun she introduced Ballas to Nonnis and would feel “betrayed” if they were dating.”“Ballas has been ostensibly single since splitting from her fiance Danny Taylor in 2024.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Right · 1In a Daily Express opinion column, Virginia Blackburn argued the row reflects a double standard: some people are calling on Ballas to stand down as a judge while there are no calls for Nonnis not to take part. Daily ExpressR “some people are calling on her to stand down as a judge of an international dance festival in which he’ll be competing. No calls, of course, on him not to take part.”“when it comes to light, it’s usually the woman who pays the price.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- News report relaying tabloid claims (Daily Mail, The Sun) that Ballas could lose a judging role over a close bond with a younger dancer, with the rules question and a rebuttal from a source close to Ballas.
- Emphasis
- Contest rules on household and family members, anonymous sources, Nonnis's ex-fiancée's reaction, and Ballas's relationship history.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Attributes most claims to other outlets and anonymous sources; does not include comment from Ballas or Nonnis.
- Charged language
- “grown close”“could lose judging role”
- For example
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“The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 66, has “grown close” to the Italian dancer, 36, according to reports” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion column, one item in a wider roundup of topics, that treats the row as a gender double standard: the woman is asked to step aside, the man is not.
- Emphasis
- Gender fairness and who pays the price when a workplace romance comes to light.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the household rule, the sourcing of the claims, or the denial from a source close to Ballas.
- Charged language
- “Office romances can be tricky”“usually the woman who pays the price”
- For example
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“Office romances can be tricky, even if the workplace is a dance floor, and when it comes to light, it’s usually the woman who pays the price.” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Shirley Ballas is reported to have a 'close bond' with dancer Giuseppe Nonnis.
- Some people are calling on Ballas to stand down as a judge of an international dance contest in which Nonnis is competing.
Where accounts differ
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Whether judging Nonnis would breach contest rules
- Centre
- Sources told the Daily Mail it would breach the household rule; a source close to Ballas says they do not share a household, so there is no breach. The Standard had asked Ballas's representative for comment.
- Right
- The Express column does not address the rules; it treats the calls for Ballas to stand down as unfairly aimed at the woman.
Shirley Ballas person
Ballas has not commented in the coverage; the Standard had contacted Ballas's representative, and a source close to Ballas says Nonnis does not live with Ballas and they do not share a household.
“The Standard has contacted Ballas’ representative for comment.” — Evening Standard
“Nonnis does not live with her and they do not share a household” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Strictly's Shirley Ballas 'could lose judging role' over close bond with younger dancer
Neutral Relays reports from other outlets about Ballas and Nonnis, with both the allegation and the rebuttal from a source close to Ballas.
Right1 article
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Daily ExpressR · · Opinion
Shirley Ballas romance rumours - what everyone's missing about 'close bond' row
Sympathetic Opinion column casting Ballas as facing a gender double standard over rumours of a close bond.
- 5 Oct 17:34 First Evening StandardN Strictly's Shirley Ballas 'could lose judging role' over close bond with younger dancer
- 7 Oct 06:40 +37h 6m Daily ExpressR Shirley Ballas romance rumours - what everyone's missing about 'close bond' row Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.