Shirley Ballas is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ to appear on the upcoming series of Celebrity Big Brother.
The Strictly Come Dancing head judge, 63, is said to be a huge fan of the show and it is claimed ITV bosses are hoping to win her over with a big money offer.
Ballroom dancer Shirley would be the first big signing for the 2024 programme is she does agree to take part.
A source told The Sun: ‘Shirley is deep in discussions about swapping her judges seat for the Big Brother diary room chair.
‘She is a big fan of the show and said she wanted to take part to show the public a different side to her than the woman people are used to seeing on Strictly.
Shirley Ballas is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ to appear on the upcoming series of Celebrity Big Brother
The Strictly Come Dancing head judge, 63, is said to be a huge fan of the show and and it is claimed ITV bosses are hoping to win her over with a big money offer (L-R: Strictly judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley and Anton Du Beke on the Christmas special this month)
‘The only thing holding Shirley back is the BBC’s position on her taking the job as she wants to keep everyone happy.
‘ITV think Shirley would be a sensational signing and they’re keen to get her on board. She is confident, outspoken and would make brilliant television.’
A Big Brother spokesperson told : ‘Any names for Celebrity Big Brother are purely speculation.’
has contacted a representative for Shirley for comment.
It was confirmed in November that Celebrity Big Brother would be returning in March 2024 following the success of the ITV2 reboot of Big Brother which launched in October.
It is claimed WAG Rebekah Vardy is being eyed-up by CBB bosses, as well as former This Morning host Phillip Schofield and American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri who allegedly had an affair with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
It comes after it was reported show bosses are planning on offering Sarah Ferguson £500,000 to take part in the upcoming series.
Reality TV juggernaut Big Brother returned to screens on ITV2 in October this year after it was axed from Channel 5, five years earlier in 2018.
Celebrity Big Brother bosses are reportedly planning on offering Sarah Ferguson £500,000 to take part in the upcoming series of the show (pictured this month)
And ITV executives are said to be keen to sign the Duchess of York, 64, in a bid to pull in big audiences.
An ITV source told the Mirror: ‘Sarah would be a brilliant signing for Celebrity Big Brother. She is very smart, engaging and funny. Not to mention the millions of viewers she would pull in if she began talking to housemates about the Royal Family and Prince Andrew.
‘Sarah has never considered reality formats in the past but ITV bosses are hoping their offer might change that position.
‘Signing her would be a massive coup. That’s why they are digging deep for the offer they plan to make her.’
It was confirmed in November that Celebrity Big Brother would be returning in March 2024, with WAG Rebekah Vardy reportedly being eyed-up by show bosses
Former This Morning host Phillip Schofield is said to be top of Big Brother bosses’ wish list for the celebrity version of the show (pictured in May)
It is also claimed they would love American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri, who had an alleged fling with Boris Johnson, to appear (pictured in 2019)
It is understood the royal impressed channel bigwigs after she co-hosted and guest-edited an episode of This Morning last month.
Fergie said of the role: ‘I have appeared on This Morning before, but this time I am coming back in a very different role.
‘I love live TV and am an enormous fan of the show, and the whole team is always lovely to deal with.
‘I’m looking forward to being there for the whole morning, and thrilled to be guest editing the show which will mean getting to explore some topics that I’m passionate about.’