Shirley Ballas would feel "honoured" if she was asked back to 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas

The 57-year-old legendary dancer was hired as the show's head judge this year after Len Goodman - who held the position for 12 years decided to quit - and, although she's found the competition tough at times, she'd love to reclaim her position on the panel next year.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, she said: "I've had a brilliant experience. One never presumes -- but I have enjoyed it. It would be an honour if one was to be asked back for such a magnificent show. It's been life-changing. It's beyond what I ever dreamed and expected. Thank god the ratings didn't go down."

Although the nation have fallen in love with her as the series has gone on, Shirley was subject to some harsh criticism in the beginning as some felt she was using technical words to speak to the celebrities and the public was finding it hard to understand.

But she said recently: "I'm quite a perfectionist. When I first came on and I had to judge the first show, it was terrifying. I take my job extremely seriously. You are totally under scrutiny. I go from week to week. I'm married to what I do. I think I did pretty good. I would probably give myself 'seven'. In anything you do there is room for improvement."

And, although she was hired as the head judge, the brunette star "dreads" having to judge the dance-off every week because she has the deciding vote.

She said: "That results show was incredibly hard. Having the deciding vote is the hardest part of this job and the thing I dread every week.

"They were both fantastic couples and it was so difficult to do. I was as shocked as everyone that they were in the dance-off. The fact that they were in the bottom two showed they did not have enough public votes. The judges make their decision based on the dance-off alone, not on previous performances. It is getting really tough now - it's anyone's to win. But if you have a favourite, make sure you vote."