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LIFE LESSONS: I'm learning to like my own company'
OK! UK|February 03, 2025
Strictly's Shirley Ballas on family, friendship and finding inner strength during her latest TV challenge
- JEN PHARO
LIFE LESSONS: I'm learning to like my own company'

When she signed up to Celebrity Bear Hunt, Shirley Ballas knew she'd have to conquer her phobias. However, there was one fear she never thought she'd overcome: being alone.

Strictly judge Shirley, 64, who recently split from former fiancé Danny Taylor, describes herself as “co-dependent” and admits she's always been frightened of being by herself.

“I've always been nervous of my own company,” Shirley tells OK!. “I'm co-dependent on my mum and my kids and stuff, so I kind of learnt it's OK to be on your own.”

Shirley, who announced her split from Danny in November last year and labelled her love life as a “disaster”, flew to Costa Rica to film the Netflix show alongside celebrities including Danny Cipriani, Lottie Moss and Boris Becker. She learnt all sorts of survival skills from Bear Grylls, but she thinks that learning to be by herself is the most valuable.

“I've never really lived alone,” explains Shirley. “I don't like that. But now I quite like to go to my room and to have my space and do my thing, and I'm learning to like my own company. It's taken many years.”

Love splits are always hard, but as well as her TV career, Shirley is throwing herself into her greatest job yet - being a grandma to 14-month-old Banksi Wylde. “I've just come home from seeing him,” says Shirley, a huge smile lighting up her face. “He's my newboyfriend. That little boy is 14 months old and he's the love of my life.”

This story is from the February 03, 2025 edition of OK! UK.

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This story is from the February 03, 2025 edition of OK! UK.

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