Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas hints she may quit once 2017 series finishes

'It’s been an experience. And at 57! It’s been wonderful'

New Strictly judge Shirley Ballas (BBC)

Despite having not finished out this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, Shirley Ballas has already hinted she may not return for the 2018 series.

Ballas replaced Len Goodman as head judge earlier this year, admitting now that she remains undecided whether being in the limelight is for her.

"Let’s wait and get this season over with first,” she told The Sun, adding: "It’s been an experience. And at 57! It’s been wonderful.”

Some of the judge’s decisions over the past weeks have been somewhat controversial, including sending home Susan Calman. When questioned about the departure, Ballas pointed out how the general public are the ones who decide who ends up in the bottom two.

"They put Alexandra in the bottom two and if I would have sent her home they would have blamed me but they put her there,” she retorted.

Speaking about who could win the series, Ballas said: "It’s an unpredictable season. You can’t call it. I think it’s going to go either way.”

Strictly returns this Saturday on BBC One.