Strictly star Shirley Ballas, 63, gives major update on her relationship with toyboy Danny Taylor, 50
SHIRLEY BALLAS has revealed she won’t be marrying boyfriend Danny Taylor, saying of their “unconventional” relationship: “I’m happy with the way it is.”
The 63-year-old Strictly Come Dancing head judge met 50-year-old actor Danny in panto — and they have been dating for five years.
She said: “I think Danny and I have a very nice relationship and he is, by far, the kindest and nicest man that I have met.
“But we went up to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh last year and we were all ready to go and then he didn’t seem ready.
“I didn’t get a good feeling from it, so I thought, ‘Nah, it’s not for me’. It’s nice if I can come and go.
“Danny is always busy, just like I am, and has a 13-year-old son.
“I think the last time I saw him was August, when he joined me on my week-long Skyathlon challenge for mental health charity CALM — so it has been a long time.
“We have a unique, unconventional relationship. It’s built on trust.
“I don’t want anybody else and, as far as I know, he doesn’t want anybody else and we talk most days on FaceTime.
“It is what it is, and I’m happy with the way it is.
“My best friend says that when Danny and I are together, I light up like bulbs.
“We had a lovely holiday at the beginning of the year, and the time we do have is precious and is focused on us two.
“There is no point in being under each other’s feet when you haven’t got time for each other. At our age, it works.”
Two years ago, Shirley joked with us that she enjoyed Horlicks and nookie.
Now she giggles: “I rather like the dark drinking chocolate, with a bit of trot, trot, trot! I’m 63, but not dead.”
She is excited to be back with fellow BBC One Strictly panellists Craig Revel Horwood, 58, Motsi Mabuse, 42, and Anton Du Beke, 57.
And she has already been blown away by the talent of this year’s celebrities — especially high-kicking 78-year-old Angela Rippon, who has inspired her to show a bit of leg herself.
She said: “I felt really good about coming into this series. I got myself organised with a great team around me.
“I always think I am too old, but when Angela Rippon came on and she danced and had her legs in a little short dress, I thought, ‘Look at that lady’s legs, she looks absolutely fantastic’.
“She came out, a lady in her late seventies, and she’s got that beautiful poised leg which ended up touching her nose. I was so jealous.
“Angela — show me how to do that! I’ve never had that kind of extension in my life.
“Then I came in here today and there were lots of short dresses, and I put them on and I thought, ‘Well, if Angela Rippon can do it, I can do it’.”
After performing with fellow judge Anton on tour, Shirley is also hopeful bosses will give them more dances to do on the show.
She said: “Anton is like a snuggle bunny. My chemistry with Anton goes back 35 years, and he hasn’t changed one iota.
“He’s polite, well-mannered, he gives advice where he needs to, he is very caring.
“He has a cheeky sense of humour and I love it. He is one in a million.
“I had the privilege of going on tour with him and he proceeded to steal my big knickers and put them in the top pocket of his jacket and fling them out and say, ‘Look, I’ve got Shirley’s draws.’”
Though Shirley says she takes no notice of the legendary Strictly “curse”, or romances that blossom on the show, she has enjoyed seeing families grow as a result of the series.
She explained: “I don’t get involved with the love lives of the celebrities on the show.
“But then I look at Kevin Clifton, who is a very dear friend, and see how happy he is with Stacey Dooley and their family.
“And Gorka Marquez and his beautiful partner Gemma Atkinson and their two children.
“And I think, ‘Wow, if it hadn’t been for the show, they wouldn’t have met’. Good for them.”
Shirley’s own family is growing too as her son Mark — a pro dancer who won the US version of Strictly last year — is expecting a baby with wife BC Jean in LA, where they live.
Laughing, Shirley said: “I’m going to be called Glam-ma.
I always think I am too old, but when Angela Rippon came on and she danced and had her legs in a little short dress, I thought, ‘Look at that lady’s legs, she looks absolutely fantastic’.
Shirley Ballas
“The baby is due in a month.
“If it comes during the Strictly live show, there’ll be a live announcement.”
Despite her huge success in the dance world, which sees her coach in between filming, Shirley is due to release her first novel — sexy murder mystery Murder On The Dance Floor — on October 12.
She said: “My book has lots of sex, lies, bed-hopping and shocking tales of the dance world — all the ones I had to leave out of my autobiography.
“It’s red hot. Danny hasn’t read it yet, but I’m expecting he will be shocked by the sex scenes.
“We have already met with several TV companies who want to make it a six-part series.”
Despite her packed schedule, there is a surprising TV show Shirley would love to try — Channel 4’s Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins.
She adds: “They’ve never had a 63-year-old on, I could be the next candidate.
“I’m a bit of a daredevil. I could do those challenges!”
I can do a Rippin too, says Zara
ZARA McDERMOTT has vowed to give Angela Rippon a run for her money when it comes to big dance moves like the splits.
Last night, the 26-year-old documentary maker performed the quickstep with partner Graziano Di Prima, 29, to Anyone For You (Tiger Lily) by George Ezra.
But asked if she will up the ante in terms of flexibility during the BBC competition, Zara teased: “Angela and I are in a splits competition. She is incredible.”
It comes after former newsreader Angela won a standing ovation from the judges in week one for her “jaw-dropping” high kick during the Cha Cha with pro Kai Widdrington, 28.
Zara, the first former Love Island contestant to appear on Strictly, also revealed she is “not ashamed” of her reality show past after rising to fame on the dating series in 2018.
Speaking about paving the way for future Love Island stars to compete for the Glitterball, she said: “I don’t think there was necessarily a ban or anything like that on Love Island contestants or reality contestants at all.
“I just think it’s who fits right for the show, and I don’t see myself as just a Love Island contestant – that’s something that I did when I was 21, but I’m 26 now.
“For the last four years I have been working so hard to make the documentaries that I make, so that’s had a lot to do with the reason why I’m on the show now.
“Because of the work that I’ve done in addition to Love Island – and not just because of that.”
Katya, do your fluff
KATYA JONES kept celebrity partner Nigel Harman, 50, in check on last night’s show.
The 34-year-old Russian pro tenderly brushed a piece of fluff from the actor’s face while the pair chatted to host Claudia Winkleman following their Viennese waltz.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood told Nigel: “You are a fantastic dancer, you draw people into the dance, people are going to vote with that.
“I say well done.”
They got an overall score from the judges of 27 out of 40.