As she waltzes into the festive season, Shirley Ballas is brimming with excitement. With her devoted partner, actor Danny Taylor, by her side, she is warming up for a cosy Christmas filled with love, laughter and more sparkle than even the gods of Strictly Come Dancing can devise. However, while the prospect of a jolly holiday is putting a smile on her face, what Shirley is really looking forward to is spending time with her first grandchild in the new year.
"I've never been as excited about anything as I am about this," she says. "It's absolutely joyous. My son and daughter-in-law sent out a baby list and I didn't want my grandbaby to wait for any of it, so my mother and I got on it right away and ordered what we could. They had parcels arriving every single day."
Shirley's 37-year-old son, Mark, and his wife BC Jean, 36, are feeling blessed after the birth of their son Banksi Wylde Ballas, especially after suffering a miscarriage last year. And when their rainbow baby arrived on 5 November, Grandma Shirley - sorry, Glamma Shirley - was among the first to celebrate the big news.
"One of the biggest thrills in my entire life, with all the ups and downs, and all the accolades, was the birth of my son," says Shirley, who is determined to be a hands-on grandparent even though she lives in England and Mark and BC are based in Los Angeles. "I have the opportunity with a grandbaby to be able to go over there. I'm extremely fortunate to be in a position now where I can do that, so I'm very excited."
At our Christmas shoot in her luxury London home, Shirley, 63, and Danny, 50, are preparing to celebrate Christmas early. Danny will be spending 25 December with his 13-year-old son, while Shirley and her mother, Audrey, will be enjoying a festive feast at The Savoy with Shirley's niece, Mary, who is a healthcare scientist.
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