Shirley Ballas, the head judge of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, has stated she has no plans to marry again and prefers to maintain her independence. Speaking to Prima magazine, Ballas, 66, emphasized that at this stage in her life, she does not wish to be accountable to anyone else.

The former ballroom dancer highlighted her desire to pursue her own interests, while remaining open to relationships without the intention of marriage. “I want to be able to do my own thing,” she said, clarifying that personal autonomy is a priority.

Ballas was previously married twice: first to former ballroom dancer Sammy Stopford from 1980 to 1984, and then to dancer Corky Ballas from 1985 until their divorce in 2007. In 2024, she called off her engagement to Danny Taylor, who is 13 years her junior, after six years together. Reflecting on that relationship, she noted the challenges of public scrutiny due to their age difference and expressed a commitment to keeping future romances private. “I think some things are meant to be private – I’ll never share that again,” she said.

In addition to her role on Strictly, Ballas will be appearing as a judge on the United States version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, for its Halloween special. The program will feature her son Mark Ballas, 40, who is partnered with former Love Island contestant Maura Higgins. Ballas described this as “double duty,” revealing she will travel between the UK and US to fulfill judging responsibilities on both shows.

She also remarked on the differences between the two audiences, suggesting she may adopt a stricter judging style in the US. Despite her involvement with Dancing With The Stars, Ballas reassured fans that she has no plans to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

The full interview is available in the December issue of Prima magazine.