Strictly Come Dancing's head judge Shirley Ballas spoke on her secret heartache during last year’s programme which has been tempered by the news of her son, Mark, welcoming a baby.
The ballroom legend, 63, admitted she struggled to continue on the show after Mark’s wife, rock singer BC Jean, suffered a miscarriage.
Mark tied the knot with his wife BC in 2016 after the pair formed rock group Alexander Jean together. The couple expect to welcome their "rainbow baby" in the next few weeks, with Shirley promising to fly out to the US to help as soon as she is asked – reports Mirror Online.
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Shirley said: “We’re calling this baby Rainbow because my daughter-in-law lost a baby last year. I was on Strictly and couldn’t fly over to be with them, which was devastating.
“I found it difficult to get through the show. Mark was on Dancing with the Stars and having to turn up for work, crushed. I knew how crushed he was but I couldn’t tell anyone.”
Shirley, whose brother David took his own life in 2003, said of the miscarriage: “I haven’t heard my mother sob like that since her own son died – I think it brought those feelings back. It was tough.
"But Mark and BC wrote the most incredible song, Rainbow, about their loss. I’m so excited about this baby and I think I’m going to be the best Grandma – or Glamma – in the world.
“I’m definitely going to spoil them.” With the baby due at the end of the month, Shirley said she is ready to drop everything to jet to the US.
Shirley added: “I want to give them their space, so I’m waiting until they’re ready to ask. I want to let them get their family together and experience this newborn. Of course, if Mark rang and asked me tomorrow, I’d go. I’m just hoping they don’t wait till Rainbow is 18.”