BBC Strictly’s Shirley Ballas shares health battle she kept secret for years

Shirley Ballas, head judge on Strictly Come Dancing, is renowned for her sparkle and style, but she's also unafraid to tackle more difficult subjects. During a break from filming her eighth series of the BBC dance show, the former Latin American champion from Merseyside opened up about how she navigates life's 'dark times'- as well as her struggle with bladder leaks.

Shirley has become the new ambassador for a campaign promoting pelvic floor exercises while encouraging women to seek help when experiencing leaks. When asked about how she got into this role, she told OK!: "It did take a minute when I was invited to do this, because even though I can talk about this among my friends, it's a bit of a taboo subject.

"But when I sat with my mum Audrey, who's 87, she said to me, 'Think of all the women you could help, think of all the people out there for whom you could make it not such a taboo subject.' She has a much better memory than me and reminded me of some of the things I've been through myself."

At 64, Shirley revealed that she had her own experiences with the issue after giving birth to her son Mark, now 38, and during menopause. It is now her 'mission' to encourage open discussions as part of her involvement with Always Discreet's Squeeze the Day campaign.

"One of the times leaks have affected me was of course when I gave birth to Mark when I was 25 and I had to wear a sort of napkin and get back to dancing straight away, there was no sort of help for me or anything. I gave birth to him and there was nobody there for me, it was just, 'Get back to it and don't complain.' I was in pain and I was breast-feeding and I remember my boobs leaking in the church and nobody really cared or helped.

"It wasn't pretty for me after I gave birth to my son or during menopause. I kept it all very personal, as I did with the menopause, but my mum thinks life is about helping people, that's why I'm on this mission. So, I think it's important we talk about bladder leaks, and the more I talk about it, the easier it becomes."

Shirley gave birth to her son Mark Ballas - now a three-times Dancing with the Stars champion in the US - in 1986, not long after tying the knot with his father and fellow dance prodigy, America's Mark 'Corky' Ballas.

"It was very different back then," she shared. "I was still working the night before I gave birth and six weeks after he was born, I had to get back to dancing. I remember my dance teacher saying to me at the time, 'How dare you come out here and compete with those stretch marks? ' He marked us sixth in a competition we should've really won.

"I still remember the feeling that he left me with. And then I was in the darkest place in my life during menopause. It's only now that I'm learning a lot more about it, and I just want to make it easy and not a taboo subject."

After almost a decade as head judge, Shirley now plays something of a motherly figure behind the scenes, generously offering insight and encouragement along with her expert critique. This support holds particular significance given the show's historic 20th series, which was at risk of being overshadowed by claims of misconduct, leading to a BBC inquiry.

This series, she feels more in tune with the behind-the-scenes dynamics than ever before. "I feel like this series, particularly, I'm more aware of everything that's going on backstage, and if I feel that somebody needs an extra snuggle bunny cuddle, I take off my Strictly dance hats and I'm there on an emotional basis for some people," she shared.