Shirley Ballas has been a part of the Strictly family since 2017, taking on the role of head judge after Len Goodman departed to focus on his Dancing with the Stars career.
And now it appears that Shirley might be making the same move. Although she has denied that she’s leaving the popular BBC show, she has consistently been linked to Dancing with the Stars, making a guest appearance on the show as a judge.
Fans also noted that when she appeared on It Takes Two this week, the tribute they played to mark her tenth year on the show felt like a possible send-off for the 66-year-old, who hails from Wallasey.
Although Shirley has been a fixture on Strictly for the past ten years, what do you know about the star?
From her famous son who currently performs on Dancing with the Stars to her relationship history, here’s all you need to know about Shirley…
Shirley Ballas’ husbands and famous son
Shirley’s first marriage came when she was just 18, when she married Sammy Stopford, who had been her professional dance partner for a year. However, speaking on Paul C. Brunson’s podcast, Shirley revealed that the marriage came about because of her dance teacher, who didn’t like her maiden name of Rich.
“My dance teacher said to me, I just don’t like your name,” she told the First Dates star. “Because it was Shirley Rich. I come from a housing estate and we were poor, broke. She said, I like the name Sammy and Shirley Stopford, The Non-Stop Stopfords. I think you should get married.
“So at 18, I married Sammy. We got married, and she was exactly right. It was the Non-Stop Stopfords. We went from zero to hero. Before I knew it we were third in the world. One of the youngest females to ever make it to such a high position in such a short space of time. Our career just went off the charts. We just flew up those ranks.”
However, while the couple went on to achieve dancing success, including being named the number-one-ranked dance couple in the world, they ended up splitting in 1984. There is no animosity between the former couple, and in 2019, she was promoting his dance classes.
© Getty ImagesIn 1985, Shirley married cook Corky Ballas, although he would soon join her in the ballroom and Latin world; together they competed in several events and won several titles together. However, the pair split in 2007 and there have been reports that the marriage broke down due to Corky’s affair with his dance student Kristina Rihanoff.
A year after they married, Corky and Shirley welcomed their son, Mark, who has followed in his parents’ footsteps by becoming a professional dancer. Mark has been a part of Dancing with the Stars on and off since 2007, having won the show three times with Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson and Charli D’Amelio. He is currently competing with Maura Higgins.
© Getty ImagesShirley and Mark teamed up earlier this year for DWTS: The Next Pro, a competition show where professional dancers competed to earn a spot as a pro dancer on the show. Speaking to Extra, she revealed she had long wanted to work with her son, saying: “I put it out there in the universe that one day, maybe, I would have the opportunity.”
Shirley’s next relationships
The Strictly Come Dancing judge is currently single after splitting from her fiancé, Danny Taylor in 2024. Shirley called their engagement off after he “vanished” on her 64th birthday before returning the following day and acting like “nothing had happened”.
Speaking to the Mirror following the split, she shared: “There was no question about how much I loved that man. And he came into my life at a point when I really, really needed it and he was such a caring person.
© Getty Images“But what’s the nicest way to say this? Along the line, there were red flags that I chose to ignore, but it just got to a point where the relationship was becoming too difficult for me in many ways.”
Speaking to The Times this year, Shirley revealed she was in no rush to find love again. “I’m OK at the moment,” she said. “No dates. I don’t want to call anyone a boyfriend or a this or a that.”
Shirley’s tragic loss
Although Shirley is known for her dancing, the star is also a charity campaigner for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Shirley joined the charity after her brother, David, died by suicide at the age of 44.
In a tearful post in 2023, the 20th anniversary of David’s death, Shirley said: “20 years ago today my dearest brother David took his own life. I lost my brother, my protector and my best friend. I’ll remember the dreaded knock on the front door forever.
“I can still picture the police officers standing there and I just knew something was wrong. ‘Mrs Rich’ they said. I stepped aside and my mother stepped forward. From that moment, our worlds came crashing down.”
© InstagramShe continued: “How time flies dearest David. Where have the years gone… you are truly missed on a daily basis. I’ll never really know why you went, but my mother and I talk about you often and you are never forgotten. Mary, your beautiful daughter, is doing you so very proud. She is strong, beautiful and she brings us so much joy.
“My work for @calmzone and @suicideandco will continue with you in the forefront of my mind. My Skyathlon was for you David. I zip lined, wing walked and I skydived for you David. I’ll continue to support others who are in dark places as I have learnt over the years there is light at the end of the tunnel. Continue to rest in peace David. Mum and I miss you so very much.”