Woman caught up with head judge Shirley Ballas to talk Strictly, becoming a granny for the first time and why she’d never say no to having a facelift
WORDS: JENNIFER KYTE. PHOTOS: BBC, INSTAGRAM @SHIRLEYBALLAS, SHUTTERSTOCK
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
It’s crazy to think that just a few years ago many of us hadn’t heard of Shirley Ballas. But when The Queen of Latin took over as head judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, she quickly became a household name.
Now Shirley, 63, who’s been with partner Danny Taylor, 50, for four years, can’t walk down the street or pop to the shops without being recognised. But she wouldn’t change it for the world. ‘It’s lovely,’ she tells us. ‘Most people are nice and kind and they just want to give you a hug.’
Shirley hasn’t always had such an easy ride with the public, though. She’s opened up about the extent of the horrible trolling she has received online and how it impacted her confidence. But thankfully, she told us that she’s now hired a PA, who is keeping her away from all of the negativity. ‘This year the trolling is better, 100%. I’ve still caught one or two things online when people can be mean. But I just do my job, I do it happily and just intend to have a really good six months with the tour as well. So I’m anticipating a smoother run.’
Trolls are also the furthest thing from her mind at the moment as she has something far more exciting around the corner – becoming a granny for the first time. ‘She just sent me a picture of herself and the tummy is rounded and the head engaged,’ she tells us of her daughter-in-law, singer/songwriter BC Jean, 36, who at the time Woman went to press was due any day. ‘She’s going to make the most spectacular mother and Mark, of course, will make the most spectacular father. I’m very proud of my daughter-in-law; I couldn’t have wanted such a gift as her, so I’m excited to see what kind of mum she’s going to be.’
Shirley is very close to her son, Mark Ballas, 37, a former professional dancer on the US show, Dancing With the Stars. Sadly, work commitments mean they’re currently thousands of miles apart, so when the baby comes, will she be racing to the airport? ‘I’m going to respect them,’ she says. ‘I’ve done a lot of reading on it and when BC feels the time is right, I could leave on a Sunday and be back on a Friday or if not, maybe a week at Christmas. We’ll be doing lots of FaceTime, too.’
In the meantime, for Shirley, it’s business as usual. ‘My life has a
