Strictly Come Dancing judge joins Dancing with the Stars spin-off panel in US – as Love Island icon joins season 35 cast

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas is headed overseas as she joins brand new spin-off series, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.

The series will feature 12 up-and-coming dancers who move into a house together and compete through the audition process, all vying for a spot as a professional dancer on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.

Ballas, alongside her son Mark, will serve as judges on the reality show hosted by reigning champion Robert Irwin.

"Crikey, this is going to be fun," Irwin said at the launch event for the series.

Throughout the series, the dancers will be joined by a line-up of returning pros who will serve as rotating mentors and guest judges, though the guest judges will be announced at a later date.

"Now it's time to find the next pro who can keep up with our seasoned pros and whip these rookie stars into shape," said Shirley Ballas.

That isn't all the Dancing with the Stars news either, with Maura Higgins (The Traitors, Love Island) confirmed to join the 35th season of the entertainment programme.

Higgins was announced alongside Ciara Miller (Summer House) as the first two celebrity cast members.

"I manifested it really hard. It’s on my vision board," Higgins told USA Today. "It's the one show I really want to do. This is the last show I want to do as a contestant."
The former Love Islander previously turned down the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing, noting she "turned down anything that would jeopardise Dancing with the Stars in America".

"I'm not going to start working my a** off now, because by the time August comes, I'll be absolutely shattered," she added. "I’m going to take some daytime naps, because I'm going to need it."

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro begins on Monday 13 July on Hulu.

Add Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.