Strictly's Shirley Ballas says she once cheated on partner with an engaged woman

09 April 2024 , 21:23

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Strictly's Shirley Ballas reveals she once cheated on partner with engaged woman (Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas admitted she once cheated on a former boyfriend with an engaged woman at a party.

The head judge of the BBC1 competition opened up about the shocking incident which happened at a 40th birthday party many years before. The 63-year-old discussed the moment of infidelity while appearing on Great British Bake Off star Mel Giedroyc's show Unforgivable.

Shirley revealed: "I was part of something, and that was a 40th birthday party where this wonderful young lady had too much to drink and so had I. We had this great big snog - she was engaged, and I had a boyfriend, so you could say it was a really strong and loveable embrace with somebody else's girlfriend."

The star didn't reveal when the incident occurred. Shirley was married to ballroom dancer Sammy Stopford between 1980 and 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."

Shirley said the incident happened at a 40th birthday party (PA)

After they went their separate ways, she went on to marry dance champion Corky Ballas. The duo were married between 1985 and 2007 and welcomed a son named Mark in 1986. The couple were married for over 20 years but it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Shirley.

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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." Shirley claims Corky fat-shamed her throughout their marriage - even when she was pregnant with their son.

Shirley started dating actor Danny Taylor in 2019 after meeting him on a pantomime production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Speaking about him that year, Shirley explained: "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!"

In 2021, he surprised her with a diamond ring when he proposed. Last year, Shirley explained that she wanted to postpone her wedding as she wanted to focus on travelling. It was previously understood they intended to tie the knot this year, but Shirley recently brazenly said she had 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.

Zara Woodcock