Shirley Ballas

RINGING THE CHA-CHA-CHANGES AHEAD OF ‘STRICTLY’ SHIRLEY BALLAS INVITES US INTO HER LONDON HOME AS SHE TALKS OF FINDING LOVE AND LEAVING L.A.

- Laura Benjamin

Shirley Ballas’s home is as warm and comforting as the woman herself. The luxurious property in south-east London has been totally renovated – and the work is so new there’s still a hint of fresh paint in the air.

Inside the immaculate five-bedroom, five-bathroom house, Shirley’s devoted mother Audrey bustles around offering tea while her adorable four-year-old Lhasa apso dog Charlie greets everyone with an enthusiastic wag of his tail.

Strictly Come Dancing’s head judge beams as she takes in the scene around her. The house is now her permanent base after she sold her Los Angeles property to relocate back to the UK.

“It’s lovely to have my own home here,” Shirley tells hello! in our exclusive photoshoot and interview. “For the past two years while filming Strictly I have stayed with my friend Terrie Martin, which I was truly grateful for, but I didn’t want to keep imposing.”

MOVE WITH THE TIMES

While Strictly played a big part in her transatlantic move, another reason was her boyfriend Danny Taylor, 44 – photos of whom are dotted around her home.

“I just love that man,” says Shirley of the handsome actor and producer. “I just want to sit there all day and stare at him. He is The One.”

Shirley, 59, bought the house 13 years ago and lived in it with her son, professional ballroom dancer Mark Ballas, and his friend, American dancer and choreographer Derek Hough, whom Shirley had looked after with his sister Julianne when they moved to London to study dance.

Shirley moved to LA after Mark and Derek landed roles on the TV talent show Dancing with the Stars. But now she is back in the UK and ready for a new start.