Shirley Ballas’ Christmas plans with son: ‘I’ll toast my brother’s memory’

2022-12-18

It's always fun to catch a glimpse into how the biggest A-list stars spend the festive season.

But instead of a colossal Christmas soiree, or feeding 15 dinner guests, Strictly Come Dancing matriarch Shirley Ballas is opting for a low-key holiday season, surrounded by her closest loved ones.

While her partner of four years, actor Danny Taylor, 48, is starring in panto in Blackpool over the festive period, Shirley, 62, is thrilled that she’s being joined by her dancer son, Mark, who’s over from the US, and that the pair will raise a toast to her late brother David.

"I’m hoping it’s a really chilled day with Mary [Shirley’s niece] and her boyfriend, and Mark and his wife, and the two dogs," the dancing diva told S magazine.

Shirley’s face lights up when she talks about Mark, 36, the current Dancing With The Stars champion, who lives in the States with his wife, singer-songwriter BC Jean.

"I’m probably the closest to him," she smiled. "He took on a role when I got divorced, and he took on a role after my brother died. He’s funny, he’s witty, he takes things with more of a sense of humour.

"He helps me with my social media, so he’s very spot on when it comes to what to say, what not to say, when to let go, what needs a response."

Despite feeling joy at the prospect of being reunited with her son, December is understandably a tough month for Shirley's family, as her beloved brother David took his own life on 5 December 2003, after suffering from depression.

"We will raise a glass to him and I’m sure we’ll share some memories,” she said. “I’ve just put up a beautiful, big photograph of David, and we have his urn. We will be chatting about him."

So what will Christmas Day look like in the Ballas household?

"Mum will be doing a crown turkey from Marks & Spencer, roasties, mashies, three veg and her own homemade gravy. She’ll be cooking and I’ll be setting the table," Shirley reminisces.

"Then I’ll clean up while she has a little rest. Between Mum and me, we’ll make it special. We’ve got crackers and games, so it will be lovely."

Shirley also recalls her mother Audrey Rich, 85, taking her to the "best" Christmas party she'd ever been to when she and her brother David were youngsters.

"When I was younger, my mum worked in nightclubs as a barmaid and waitress, and in the afternoon on Christmas Day they’d have a big Christmas party with Santa Claus, dinner and presents.

"We were able to dance and sing on the microphone. Mum would take my brother and I and we just loved it."

Asked if she has any Christmas traditions, Shirley tells her Strictly-fan readers: "We always have a nice sit-down meal. We get the nice china out and decorate the table."

"I like to do my hair and make-up, but I might get nice Christmas pyjamas for everybody this year," she adds, and on top of this, "I watch The Sound Of Music every single year. For me it’s iconic."

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