Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has revealed she’s got bruises from Bruno Tonioli’s flailing arms.
Not for the first time this series, Bruno’s extravagant expressions caught out Shirley last weekend.
During this week’s spin-off It Takes Two, Zoe Ball joked with Shirley that people were worried for her sitting next to flamboyant Bruno.
Shirley admitted: “I’ve had a few bruises from Bruno.”
Zoe joked: “Did you realise it would be so dangerous this job?”
Shirley went on to defend her co-star: “He talks with his arms and I wouldn’t have him any other way.
“I took up boxing lessons. I’ve got great peripheral vision. I just love him the way he is.”
Meanwhile, looking ahead to the Strictly final at the end of this month, Shirley thinks its an open competition.
Currently six couples are left in the running, including Ashley Roberts & Pasha Kovalev, Charles Venn & Karen Clifton and Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice.
Also still competing are Joe Sugg & Dianne Buswell, Lauren Steadman & AJ Pritchard and Stacey Dooley & Kevin Clifton
The favourite to win has already changed a number of times throughout the series and Shirley thinks it’s anyone’s to win.
“I think it’s a real level playing field,” she told The One Show on BBC One on Friday. “I do feel it might be an unexpected result, so that much I’ll give you.
“I think everyone is fabulous and everybody’s bringing their best. At the end of the day, you’ve got to vote – vote for your favourites.”
She added: “Don’t go having a go at me when they go home.”
The remaining couples will take to the dancefloor this week when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday 1st December at 6.50pm with a Musicals themed special.
The results show on Sunday 2nd December at 7.20pm on BBC One with a guest performance from Adam Lambert, who will be singing a Queen classic from the musical We Will Rock You.
