Strictly's Shirley Ballas sparks backlash for her scathing comments about female dancers days after her 'brutal' scoring during guest role on DWTS

Shirley Ballas was on the warpath during Saturday night's Strictly Halloween special.

The head judge, 66, was back on the panel days after taking up a guest spot on the Halloween edition of the US version of Strictly – Dancing With The Stars (DWTS).

During her flying visit across the pond Shirley left viewers, and the cast, shocked with her 'brutal' scoring and come Saturday's Strictly she was still dishing out some frightening marks.

Viewers of the BBC show slammed the judge for her critique, claiming once again that she appeared to be favouring the male celebs.

Fans fear Jaime Winstone will face her third dance off on Sunday's results show after she was awarded a frosty five from Shirley, in costume as an Ice Queen, for her Salsa to Filthy / Gorgeous by Scissor Sisters.

This week marks the first ever three-couple dance off on the show, with the judges set to decide on one couple to eliminate.

Alongside Jaime and her partner Carlos Gu, viewers were left worried about  Olympian Tabby Stoecker's fate after she too was scored a five by Shirley, despite sevens from Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.  

Delta Goodrem, one of the show's favourites, couldn't escape Shirley either as she was told during her feedback 'we're halfway through, so I expect to see the correct footwork.'

Later in the show actor Lawrence Robb was told by Shirley to 'keep working on your frame' but she added a caveat, telling him 'we're in the middle of the show'.

'Shirley’s misogyny is RIFE tonight. She says to a woman “we’re halfway through so I expect better technique by now”, but to a man “you are slowly improving but we’re only halfway through so you’ve got time to improve”,' posted one viewer on X.

'shirley to tabby: “we’re halfway through i have to be picky” shirley to lawrence: “we’re only halfway through, you’re not going to be perfect” as bucks fuzz said, make your f**king mind up babe,' agreed another. 

House of The Dragon star Bethany Antonia and her pro partner Nancy Xu took to the dance floor with a jive to I'm In Love With a Monster but came under fire from the head judge who told her: 'As you move forward, and if you're fortunate enough to, I would like you to start going for things.' 

'Shirley admitted to holding Delta to higher standards, gave Tabitha a FIVE and was cruel to Jaime She saw the criticisms against her last week and on #DWTS and is doubling down on it Enough is enough, axe her already,' commented one fan. 

On Tuesday night Shirley earned praise for her 'brutal' scoring as she made her pitch to land a permanent spot on the DWTS judging panel.

The Queen Of Latin has earned a reputation for her hard scoring on Strictly judging panel, so it was no surprise she didn't hold back when she appeared on the US version.

American fans were stunned as Shirley opened her debut by giving actress Julia Stiles just four points for her Argentine Tango, leaving even her co-judge Bruno Tonioli shocked.

The dancer has previously gushed it was her 'dream' to appear on DWTS, but has also insisted she's '100%' not leaving Strictly despite reports all four judges are planning to quit.

Shirley was also tasked with judging her own son Mark, who is partnered with Maura Higgins, but there was no favouritism in sight as she scored the pair lower than the rest of the judging panel.

Viewers were quick to praise Shirley for her 'brutal' judging methods, writing on X: 'SHIRLEY BALLAS GAVE A 4 TO JULIA AND EZRA;'

'Okay I already think Shirley Ballas should be a permanent judge;'

'Shirley Ballas giving a 4 on the first dance, oh mother did NOT come to play;'

'Shirley loudly disagreeing with them I'm cackling;'

'Ms Shirley is scaryyyyy she even got Derek actually critiquing;'

'BUT NGL... I DID LAUGH WHEN SHIRLEY PULLED THAT 4 OUT. LIKE PEOPLE THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA LET STUFF SLIDE. YALL THOUGHT WRONG LMAOOO;'

'Obsessed with Shirley's ominous a*s entrance. I know these pros are scared;'

'Damn a four right off the bat. Shirley is so brutal, tonight will be interesting.' 

Strictly continues at 7.10pm on Sunday on BBC One.