Why Strictly's Shirley Ballas didn't dance during live show

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas wasn't twirling into the ballroom with Bruno Tonioli during Saturday's (November 2) live show, as she was taking things a little easier after undergoing a four-hour operation to remove her breast implants as a cancer precaution.

The star opened up about her procedure and why she wants others to think twice before going under the knife in a new interview with The Sun, where she confirmed that she would still be on the judging panel but would be missing the iconic dance lead-in the judges do at the start of the show.

Shirley Ballas, Strictly Come Dancing launch red carpet

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"I won’t be able to dance with (fellow judge) Bruno (Tonioli) like usual," Shirley explained, "But I think everyone will understand.

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"I’ll be on a limited amount of medication because I don’t want to be twirling too high now, do I?"

But while Shirley won't be doing any dancing of her own as she recovers, she did add that the bosses over at the BBC One show have been "one thousand and fifty per cent supportive" of her decision to have her breast implants removed.

"They said they didn’t want me back at work unless I am cleared to go back to work. They said they would welcome me with open arms and that if I couldn’t come back they would deal with it," Shirley said.

"They told me to take my time and not to make a decision. There was no mention of bringing in another judge, there was none of that at all."

In the same interview, Shirley urged fans not to follow her lead by getting cosmetic surgery for the wrong reasons, stating: "Don't do what I did."

Strictly Come Dancing 2019 continues on Saturday (November 9) at 7pm on BBC One.