Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas reveals she once punched woman in the face

‘I socked her in the gob,' said former dancer

Shirley Ballas (Getty)

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has revealed she once punched a woman who she suspected her husband had been unfaithful with.

In her new memoir, Behind the Sequins, Ballas writes that a woman approached her and, referencing her then-husband Corky, said: “You and I need to talk.”

Ballas added: "I tried to duck it, saying I had nothing to say to her, but she refused to budge.

"Suddenly, it seemed as if everything went into slow motion as I turned round to face her, just as she said, 'You need to get used to the fact that I f***ed your husband.' 

"There was a little white angel on one of my shoulders, and a little red angel on the other one. The white angel told me, 'Keep walking,' while the red angel said, 'Sock her in the gob.' So thats what I did.

"I punched her and she rolled away. I'm not proud.”

Ballas and Corky, who was also a dancer, divorced in 2007 after 22 years of marriage.

The Independent is trying to contact Corky for comment.

Ballas is the head judge on Strictly, which returns on Saturday 17 October. See the full list of contestants here.

Ballas's book, Behind the Sequins, is out now.