10 January 2024 , 09:55
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Shirley Ballas hasn't always been lucky in love and was once involved in a bust-up with a woman who bragged she was having an affair with her ex-husband.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 63, has been married twice and both relationships led to very different paths, with one ex-husband becoming a lifelong close friend and the other breaking Shirley's heart. The ballroom dancing champion has candidly opened up about her romances over the years.
Most recently, the star announced that she won't be walking down the aisle anytime soon, after cancelling her nuptials to boyfriend, West End actor Danny Taylor, 50. Here, we take a look back at Shirley's chaotic love life over the years and the latest on her ex-fiancé.
First love at 18
Shirley is still friends with her first husband Sammy (Instagram)
She describes him as a 'dear friend' and supports him (Instagram)Shirley's first husband was dance partner Sammy Stopford, who she tied the knot with when she was just 18. The pair wed in 1980 and went on to win a string of dancing competitions together, including the Professional Latin at Blackpool Dance Festival in 1983. But just four years after saying 'I do', the couple went their separate ways and filed for divorce in 1984.
Despite their split, the pair have remained close friends over the years, and in 2017 she was even spotted having lunch with her ex-husband. She said at the time: "Lunch with my first husband, Sammy Stopford. Still love him to bits." She has also supported dance teacher Sammy's business and charity ventures over the years and describes him as a "dear friend".
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'Fat-shaming' ex-husband
Shirley's second marriage to American ballroom dancer Corky Ballas couldn't have been more different. After falling for Corky when she met him at a dance competition in Canada, they wed in 1985.
They remained married for 22 years and had a son called Mark, now 36, before splitting in 2007 - but it wasn't a happy marriage for Shirley. In her 2020 memoir, Behind The Sequins, Shirley revealed Corky had "multiple girlfriends" even when she moved to America for him, adding: "I gave up my life for that man."
Her second marriage was to ballroom dancer Corky Ballas, who 'fat-shamed' her during her pregnancy (Internet Unknown)Shirley claims Corky fat-shamed her throughout their marriage - even when she was pregnant with their son. She alleged Corky would say: "Get too big and I'm out the door. I don't do fat, Shirley." After she developed a craving for doughnuts during her pregnancy, she claimed Corky hid a cockroach in one in a bid to stop her eating them.
"My husband at the time thought I was too heavy for being three months pregnant so he put a roach underneath my doughnut," Shirley said. "When I ate it, the cockroach crackled in my mouth with the legs dangling outside. This made me vomit straight away." The horrific experience meant Shirley has never eaten a doughnut again. Corky has never publicly commented on the claims.
Boob job for other half
Corky and Shirley Ballas were Latin dance partnersShirley later revealed she was so conscious of her appearance being married to Corky due to his constant comments that she even had a boob job. "He'd say 'you're too fat. What's that mole on your chin? Your nose is crooked, you need a nose job. Your breasts are too small'," the Strictly star shared.
Opening up about her self-esteem issues and propensity to do things "for the wrong reasons". The star increased her breast size from a 32B to a 34DD in a bid to please Corky in 2002. She told Prima magazine: "I have struggled with my self-esteem all my life. I've done all sorts to try to make myself feel more confident.
"I had my teeth straightened and fat drained out of my arms and legs. I thought doing my boobs would make my husband at the time like me more, but I was doing it for the wrong reasons. You have to love yourself first. That's my message to every woman." In 2019, Shirley had her breast implants removed after medical experts warned it would be difficult to check for cancer.
Punching love rival
It is claimed Corky cheated on Shirley multiple times throughout their marriage. But she admitted one time things went too far and she punched a love rival in the face after the woman made a drunken brag about her husband.
Writing in her memoir, Shirley said: "The woman in question sidled up to me, clearly the worse for a drink or two, and said, 'You and I need to talk'. I tried to duck it, saying I had nothing to say to her, but she refused to budge. Suddenly, it seemed as if everything went into slow motion as I turned round to face her, just as she said, 'You need to get used to the fact that I f****d your husband'."
Shirley continued: "There was a little white angel on one of my shoulders, and a little red angel on the other one. The white angel told me, 'Keep walking,' while the red angel said, 'Sock her in the gob.' So that's what I did. I punched her and she rolled away. I'm not proud. All I could hear around me were people whispering, 'Is that Shirley Ballas?' Needless to say, I did not return to my front-row seat." In 2017, Corky spoke to The Sun and claimed Shirley cheated on him with "at least 10 different men" throughout their marriage.
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Cancelled engagement
Shirley found love again with West End star Danny but recently announced they wouldn't be getting married (S Meddle/ITV/REX)Shirley began dating actor Danny Taylor in 2019 after they both met while performing in a pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Speaking about him that year, Shirley said: "I would marry him tomorrow, if he asked me. If this is what love is, I have never experienced it before. He's very kind and very caring - he's always there for me. I hope he'll propose one day but he's never married and I think he's a bit nervous about it, so we'll see. Come on, Danny!"
Shirley previously referred to Danny as 'The One' in an interview with HELLO! magazine. She said: "We have a lot in common and we laugh all the time. He is part of the reason why I readjusted my life. Danny is just so magnificently special. I have met his parents and everybody likes each other. That's a plus." In 2021, Danny surprised Shirley with a diamond ring and they got secretly engaged.
In an interview last year, Shirley shared that she wanted to postpone her wedding as she had plans to travel. She told MailOnline: "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. [The relationship is] going good - I'm busy, he's busy and we talk to each other every day - several times a day, and my mum talks to him as well."
It's understood they intended to tie the knot this year, but now Shirley has brazenly said she has no intention of marrying again. "Two marriages, an engagement, two long-term relationships later and I will not be getting married again. I've made the decision," she told The Sun on Tuesday.