Much-loved Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas appeared on Monday’s Loose Women and opened up about her health struggle that ‘so many women suffer from, but is considered taboo’

Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas has opened up about a secret health battle that has left her suffering for years.

The head judge, 64, joined the Loose Women on Monday (November 18) and spoke about her struggle with bladder leaks that have left her not “drinking while in the studio”.

Shirley has become an ambassador for a campaign promoting pelvic floor exercises while encouraging women to seek help when experiencing leaks after she was advised not to talk about the issue when she was younger.

Opening Shirley’s interview, host Christine Lampard said: “Here on Loose Women, we never shy away from taboo topics, so today we are marking bladder health month and discussing bladder leaks.”

Shirley Ballas joined the Loose Women panel to speak about her health battle (Image: ITV)

Wanting to share their personal experience, Shirley, 64, explained: ” I feel like bladder leaks a little bit of a taboo subject that no one wants to talk about. I think it is important for women to do their pelvic floor exercises and understand it should be a part of our daily routine.

“Being a dancer, I do them all the time; I have learned how to do them. But when I was giving birth, and I was pregnant, particularly during menopause, I struggled with that, bladder leaks.”

Shirley added, “I talked to my mum about it, and my mother’s generation, it is a taboo subject; she doesn’t want to talk about it. In fact, when she knew I was coming this morning, I hope you’re watching, mother, she was like, ‘Oh dear, you can’t talk about that!’

“But I think it is a subject heading and when you have a job on the TV, if you have a platform and you can help the ladies out, then for me its extremely important.”

Shirley Ballas is the head judge on Strictly but has admitted to having a health problem (Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Christine chimed in: “What is interesting is that we see you and what you do in such a physical job, and you wouldn’t have assumed this was something you were quietly having to battle behind the scenes. It’s something you have to think about; it changes the way you work potentially.”

Shirley replied: “Well, it does. I don’t drink fluids. I don’t drink water at all if I’m travelling or I’m in the studio. But I think most women, if you sneeze, for example, if you laugh, particularly at 64 years of age, and now I’m noticing it even more.

“I thought let me do this subject heading, let me get everybody engaged with doing their pelvic floor and understanding that it’s extremely important we talk about, share and don’t suffer in silence.”