Shirley Ballas will return for the next series of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas

The 57-year-old dance expert replaced Len Goodman as head judge on the popular show last year, and following months of speculation about her future with the programme, she's now set to return for a second stint on the panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Shirley and the BBC wanted to do another series so everyone's chuffed they've come to an agreement. The whole panel is coming back.

"Viewers seemed to like the chemistry between them. It's all verbally agreed. Formal contracts should be signed in the coming days."

Shirley previously admitted she wasn't sure if she'd be invited back to the show as she initially had a mixed response from viewers.

She said: "I've had the most spectacular time. There have been some things to get used to like Twitter and the press. But generally I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of being on the show. As of yet, nothing has been decided. So we will wait and see...

"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."

But if she hadn't been asked back, the Queen of Latin had another plan in mind as she recently admitted she'd love to be a regular on 'Loose Women'.

She said of her experience on the panel: "I'd love to do the show five days a week, Saturdays and Sundays and holidays. I loved it. Everybody gets to have their fair and honest opinions - you don't have to agree with everyone, but just be sensible about what you're saying. I really enjoyed that."