Shirley Ballas has declared that she would rather live with her 89-year-old mother than with a man again. The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 65, currently resides in south-east London with her mother Audrey Rich, who moved in permanently four years ago.
A Joyful Arrangement
Ballas explained that she and her mother split household chores such as cooking and cleaning, a stark contrast to her past relationships where she ended up taking care of her partners. She described living with her mother as 'the most joyous thing,' noting that Audrey handles washing, ironing, and even stands on a stool to clean her ornaments, though Ballas wishes she wouldn't. 'She puts the meals on the table, things like vegetable casseroles, and I take care of the rest. We are a bit like husband and wife,' Ballas said.
Independence and Peace
One of the greatest benefits of living with her mother, according to Ballas, is that Audrey never tells her what to say or do. In an interview with the Telegraph, Ballas reflected on her past living arrangements: 'I've had a few boyfriends and I just found myself always having to take care of them. My mother, however, is self-sufficient. She doesn't like a fuss, she doesn't tell me what to say or tell me what to do.'
Past Relationships and Heartbreak
Ballas was last romantically involved with West End star Danny Taylor, 53, for six years and they were engaged. However, they split in late 2024 after what Ballas called 'unforgivable behaviour.' She revealed that Taylor disappeared during her 64th birthday celebrations, prompting her to spend hours frantically calling his friends and family. At 2am, she saw that her WhatsApp messages had been read, but Taylor reappeared the next day as if nothing had happened.
Breaking her silence in 2025, Ballas told the Mirror that the incident triggered painful memories of her brother David's suicide at age 44. 'All those memories came flooding back… it triggered all these emotions. I will never forget that day until the day I die. I remember looking across in the middle of the night and I saw my mother was just so upset, reliving all of her trauma. I just thought 'this can't go on'. Not just for my sake, but my mum too,' she shared.
Open to Love, but Cautious
Despite the heartbreak, Ballas remains open to meeting someone in the future. Currently single, she has a few 'friends' but nothing she would label as a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. She admitted, 'I love the idea of being married, even after two failed marriages and failed relationships along the way. But at this age you get set in your ways.'
