Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has made no secret of her love for younger boyfriend Danny Taylor.
The smitten pair met when they starred in a pantomime production of Jack and The Beanstalk back in 2018.
Love blossomed and they moved in together during lockdown - and now 62-year-old Shirley is hoping it’s only a matter of time before West End star Danny, 50, proposes.
She revealed Danny has even bought an engagement ring, but he hasn’t got down on one knee just yet.
“He says, ‘I’ll do it when I’m ready, but I’m always giving him a nudge,” Shirley recently said.
If they do eventually walk down the aisle, Danny will be husband number three for the ballroom dancing champion.
Here we look back on her first two marriages and Shirley’s bust-up with a love rival which led to her lashing out.
Married at 18
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”.
Turbulent second marriage
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 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.”
Fat-shamed and ‘cockroach in doughnut’
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 means Shirley has never eaten a doughnut again. Corky has never publicly commented on the claims.
Boob job to please husband
Shirley 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.
Cheating and bust up with 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.
Third time lucky
Despite the turbulent times in her past, Shirley says her “life is easier” now with new partner Danny.
Revealing her body and self-esteem issues continue to plague her in her 60s, she said: “Those habits die hard. I’m not going to lie, they are ongoing.
“But Danny is probably the first person who has liked every bit of me, whether I’m a few pounds lighter or heavier. He doesn’t see all that.”
She added: “Life with him is the easiest it’s ever been with any man.”
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