Strictly judge Shirley Ballas charges fans £83 for personalised video messages

Strictly’s Shirley Ballas is waltzing away with £83 every time she says hello to fans of the show online.

Shirley, who turns 60 on Sunday, already earns a reported £350,000 for being Strictly Come Dancing ’s head judge and appearing on the BBC series’ ­lucrative spin-off tour.

The former Latin dance champ is the first of the show’s judges to join the Cameo platform used by stars both here and in the United States – including last year’s Strictly star Catherine Tyldesley.

There is no suggestion Shirley is breaking any rules by selling the personalised video messages on the web.

A source said: “These sites are huge business and celebs are queuing up to get a piece of the action. It’s easy money for a few minutes’ work.”

Shirley tells fans: “So excited to have joined with Cameo. Excited to be able to send personalised messages for all occasions. Bringing love and smiles to people is a beautiful thing. Hugs.”

She is said to have charged £100,000 to appear in ­a pantomime.

She is also likely to coin in more cash when her book, Behind The Sequins, is published next month.

Other well-known faces on Cameo are Coronation Street favourites Catherine Tyldesley and Antony Cotton. For £41.50, Cath – who came 11th in last year’s Strictly with Johannes Radebe – will even sing you happy birthday. Antony, who plays Corrie’s Sean Tully, charges £33.20 for a message.

Corrie legend Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow for 60 years, sells “virtual hugs” to fans for £35, via the Celebrity Video Messages service. Bill said: “It is wonderful to be part of making someone’s day.”

Shirley will be back on Strictly next month, where contestants include former MP Jacqui Smith, BBC DJ Clara Amfo and EastEnder Maisie Smith.

Olympian Nicola Adams will also join the show as part of its first same-sex couple.

Last year, Shirley told how she suffered a cancer scare and learned there was a history of the disease in her family while taking part in the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? in 2018. She had her breast implants removed as a precaution.