Shirley Ballas has expressed her desire to never marry again, despite her long-term relationship with Danny Taylor.
The Strictly Come Dancing head judge met her boyfriend in 2019 while working on a pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk, and the couple were assumed to be engaged in 2021 after Shirley began wearing a sparkler from Danny, 50, on her left hand.
However, she has now told Alan Carr why she is beyond weddings.
‘Two marriages, an engagement, two long-term relationships later and I will not be getting married again. I’ve made a decision,’ she told the comedian on his podcast Life’s A Beach.
Shirley was married to former ballroom star Sammy Stopford from 1980 until 1984 before marrying dancer Corky Ballas in 1985. They separated in 2007 after 22 years together.
This differs from her announcement in 2019, when she declared that she would’marry him tomorrow if he asked me’.
During the podcast, Shirley, 63, also shared some of her mum’s sage advice when it comes to relationships: ‘My mum says it’s like buses. You get on, you get off another, it’s fine.’
The mother and daughter are quite close and have spent a lot of time travelling together when their schedules allow.
This is something that has impacted her marriage decision she’s previously revealed on Lorraine: ‘I’ve changed my mind. I just feel that at this particular point in my life, my mother and I have got this great relationship and we want to do some travelling and there is different things we want to do.’
Despite her globe travels, Shirley appears to be still on the Danny bus, as the 50-year-old shared a snapshot of the couple on New Year’s Eve.
While reflecting on the year, Danny expressed his appreciation for his partner: ‘Shirley B I’ve discovered truly is invincible who also became a Glam Mother whaaaheeeyyy!’
Shirley’s chat with Alan naturally moved to Strictly, and she was actively recruiting. If she continues up the fantastic job, her LinkedIn profile will be updated to lead judge/casting team.
Although Alan, 47, wants to learn the Argentine Tango, he is concerned about how he will be depicted on the BBC series.
‘They will have me looking like a joke on it,’ he worried.
‘No they won’t. You can portray who you are. Be who you are as that’s what makes you special,’ Shirley reassured him.
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