They met at pantomime rehearsals for Jack And The Beanstalk in 2018 in Darlington and have been inseparable ever since.
And twice-married Shirley Ballas, 60, has revealed she’s discussed tying the knot with her younger lover Daniel Taylor, 47, in a candid new interview.
The Strictly Come Dancing star told how it doesn’t bother her that he is always referred to as her ‘toyboy’ and gushed that lockdown together made them ‘stronger’.
Sweet: Twice-married Shirley Ballas, 60, has revealed she’s discussed tying the knot with her younger lover Daniel Taylor, 47, in a candid new interview
She told The Sun: ‘First of all, I look younger than him. It might be there in numbers, but I give Danny a run for his money!
‘Do we ever have ups and downs? Absolutely, we spent time together in lockdown and that was like 10 years’ work but it made us stronger, if you came through lockdown, you can come through anything.
‘We do talk about marriage. Come on, Daniel, where is the ring? If I married him, I think I would be Shirley Ballas-Taylor – it sounds a bit like Elizabeth Taylor and I could collect husbands like she does.
Lovers: The Strictly Come Dancing star told how it doesn’t bother her that he is always referred to as her ‘toyboy’ and gushed that lockdown together made them ‘stronger’
‘After all, you can always get a divorce! She had eight marriages didn’t she? No, I’ll just stick with my Danny, but I do think it has a nice ring to it.’
English-American actress Elizabeth Taylor famously had eight marriages in total.
The beauty also spoke about the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing which starts in less than two weeks time.
She said she gets ’emotional’ even thinking about the new show and is ‘so excited’ that there will be a full 13 episodes this year.
The judge added that having former Great British Bake Off star John Whaite competing in the first all-male pairing is a ‘great step forward in representation and inclusion’.
Loved up: She told The Sun: ‘We do talk about marriage. Come on, Daniel, where is the ring?’ (pictured in January)
Earlier this year Shirley and Daniel revealed that they have discussed adopting a child together.
The ballroom dancing champion told the Loose Women panel she wouldn’t rule out expanding her family with her hunky beau, and she thinks it’s ‘important’ to explore the option of bringing a child into her home.
Shirley also praised her boyfriend for supporting her when she decided to have her breast implants removed last year, having learned they increased her chances of contracting cancer.
Shirley told how she thinks it’s ‘important’ to think about the prospect of adopting a child, but she and Daniel have made any official plans.
She said: ‘We have talked about that. it’s quite important. It doesn’t matter who has the home. If you can give a home to someone who’s been in care, that’s quite important.’
The Strictly head judge first went public with her relationship with Daniel in March 2019, after the couple met doing panto in November 2018.
Romance: The Strictly head judge first went public with her relationship with Daniel in March 2019, after the couple met doing panto in November 2018
Shirley also revealed that Daniel fully supported her decision to have her breast implants removed to significantly reduce her chances of having breast cancer.
She said: ‘He’s been a massive support. I couldn’t have done this journey without him.
‘It’s quite a tough decision to make and it took me a few years to do it. It’s definitely something that’s running through the family.
‘This is the first run into winter that I haven’t got sick. I made a decision that I would take them out. They had separated, they were uncomfortable, they felt heavy.’
When asked if going back to her natural chest size has affected her body confidence in any way, Shirley said that while she’s always struggled with insecurities about her curves, she feels happier than ever.
She said: ‘Well I think you can’t always go by what you see. I have struggled with body issues all my life. Since I can remember. I have a curvy figure. I’m not stick thin.
‘What I’m learning now is to love yourself and how you are and how you’re made.’
Yay! The beauty also spoke about the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing which starts in less than two weeks time, saying she feels ’emotional’ about its return