Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas has revealed she “really thought that was it” after choking on a fish bone shortly before Saturday’s (November 22) Blackpool extravaganza.

The head judge feared she was going to die in a “terrifying” moment as she was getting ready for week nine of the BBC dancing competition.

The 65-year-old said she “couldn’t breathe” for 20 minutes and thought it was the “end” as the fish bone was "lodged" in her throat.

However, it was Shirley’s make-up artist Jane Burstow, who saved her life, after performing the Heimlich manoeuvre – the pair have worked together for almost a decade.

© South Wales Argus