Shirley Ballas has delivered a succinct message for the rumour mill suggesting she and beau Danny Taylor have called it quits. The Strictly Come Dancing icon, aged 63, alongside her partner Danny, 50, found themselves at the centre of speculation in 2023 about a possible end to their engagement, and in 2024 whispers of a split were rife.
Yet the BBC judge, who is prepping for the upcoming series of the dance extravaganza, has quashed such gossip with an affirmation that their relationship is thriving more than ever. Speaking to the Mirror, she confirmed their solid bond, stating: “Danny and I are still together contrary to anything you might read
In a defiant six-word response, she added: “Who knows [if we’ll get married].” In addition to setting the record straight on her romantic life, Shirley opened up about her new role as a grandmother.
Her son Mark recently became a father to Banksi Wylde Ballas, and despite the distance, Shirley makes sure to maintain a close connection with her grandson. She divulged: “I just want to spend more time with him. I see him every day on FaceTime, he’s crawling now!
“The world is a much smaller place now, with FaceTime and you can fly over there with good planning. Mark can come over here, I can come over there.”
In a previous podcast, Shirley explained why she had planned never to walk down the aisle again. Recounting a painful breakup, she shared: “I was in a long-term relationship and he finished with me two days before I went on the cruise.
“I just remember being in the Waikiki bar with my mother and I was whining and crying and she gave me a huge slap across my face… and said, ‘You will not ruin my holiday, get over yourself. [Expletive] happens.’
“I think I was the most miserable on the biggest event that I had prepared for my mother. Two marriages, an engagement, two long-term relationships later and I will not be getting married again. I’ve made the decision.”
Reflecting on her current relationship with actor Danny, whom she met during a Christmas pantomime in 2019, Shirley revealed the slow-burning nature of their romance.
She said: “We met on panto as friends. It didn’t really take off until March… for him. I fell in love way before… I think for me it was first sight.
“He was going through a difficult time in his relationship. We did become friends and then probably in about February I said, ‘I love you Danny’ and he said, ‘I know’. It took a while.”
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