Strictly’s Shirley Ballas, 63, reveals she has only seen boyfriend Danny Taylor, 50, ONCE since August as she admits she doesn’t want to get married: ‘I just need to be dependent on myself’

Shirley Ballas has revealed her unconventional relationship with boyfriend Danny Taylor and admitted the couple have no desire to get married.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 63, has been in a relationship with her 50-year-old partner for five years after they met during pantomime rehearsals for Jack And The Beanstalk in 2018.

Despite their close relationship, she has said she no longer wants to tie the knot with Danny after realizing she was being a ‘bit pushy’ and decided to ‘back off’.

Shirley has been married twice before, first tying the knot with dance partner Sammy Stopford in 1980 before splitting five years later.

She then married fellow professional ballroom dancer Corky Ballas in 1985 and they welcomed son Mark Ballas together, before divorcing in 2007.

Loved-up: The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 63, has been dating her 50-year-old partner for five years after they met during pantomime rehearsals for Jack And The Beanstalk in 2018

Changed her mind: Despite their close relationship, she has said she no longer wants to tie the knot with Danny after realizing she was being a ‘bit pushy’ and decided to ‘back off’ (pictured together in 2019)

In a new interview, Shirley revealed she has decided marriage isn’t for her and wants to be “dependent on myself.”

Speaking to Heat magazine, she said: ‘I told (Danny) on Valentine’s Day while we were having dinner in the Shard. Romantic, right? I just decided it wasn’t for me. He has a grandchild on the way, he has a teenager – it just feels good for both of us to have that feeling of freedom.

‘He doesn’t have to ask me if he wants to do something, and I don’t have to ask him either. Moreover, he has never been married. I think he likes the idea of ​​being a spinster, if that’s the right word. And I’ve been married twice.’

She continued, “I enjoyed being married – and when I told my son I wouldn’t get married again, he said, ‘Well, it was you who insisted on it in the first place.’ That was true – It was never Danny who said he wanted to get married, it always came from me.

“I was a little pushy and realized I had to back off a little bit and think, ‘Okay, I don’t need this. I shouldn’t be so dependent, I should only depend on myself. “As I sit here today, I don’t want to get married.”

The dancer went on to reveal that she hasn’t seen Danny much in recent months, saying she has only seen him once since doing her charity Skyathlon in August.

She explained, “He’s just as busy. He is currently doing a play called By The Waters of Liverpool, and he also has a son who is thirteen.’

Shirley reasoned, “We talk on the phone regularly, so you could say we have a good FaceTime relationship. But it works. I’m not interested in another boyfriend, and he’s not interested in another girlfriend.’

Not interested: In new interview, Shirley revealed she has decided marriage isn’t for her and wants to be ‘dependent on myself’ (pictured this month)

Unconventional: The dancer went on to reveal that she hasn’t seen Danny much in recent months either, saying she’s only seen him once since doing her charity Skyathlon in August

She is preparing to become a grandmother for the first time as her son Mark – who is also a professional dancer and appears on Dancing With The Stars – is expecting a baby with his wife next month.

Shirley has said she will be taking on the role of ‘Glamma’, as she affectionately calls it, and admitted she’s going to ‘spoil that baby rotten’.

She said them is ready to fly to America to be there for Mark and his wife BC Jean as they prepare to welcome their ‘rainbow baby’ after suffering a miscarriage last year.

Shirley told me Mirror: ‘We’re calling this baby Rainbow because my daughter-in-law lost a baby last year.

‘I was on Strictly and couldn’t fly to them, which was devastating. I had a hard time getting through the show.

‘Mark was on Dancing with the Stars and had to show up to work crushed. I knew how crushed he was, but I couldn’t tell anyone.”

Excitingly, she’s preparing to become a grandmother for the first time, while her son Mark – who is also a professional dancer and appears on Dancing With The Stars – is expecting a baby with his wife next month (L-R: Mark, Shirley and BC Jean in the photo in 2017)