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Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas opened up the doors of her London home for an exclusive Hello! magazine interview and photoshoot - see photos inside.
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas welcomed HELLO! magazine into her London home for an exclusive interview and photoshoot. She revealed where she keeps her Strictly wardrobe and her abundant trophy collection, in the gorgeous home she has decorated with Hollywood glitz.
SEE: Go Through the Keyhole at Strictly judge Shirley Ballas' LA house
In the interview, Shirley talks about her love for her boyfriend Danny Taylor. "I just love that man," Shirley says of the handsome actor and producer. "I just want to sit there all day and stare at him. He is The One. We have a lot in common and we laugh all the time. He is part of the reason why I readjusted my life.
"Danny is just so magnificently special. I have met his parents and everybody likes each other. That’s a plus.” In the interview, Shirley also reveals why she sold her previous home in Los Angeles to permanently relocate back to London.
WATCH: Shirley gives us an incredible tour of her new London home
"When I got the Strictly job it made sense to come back to England. It was quite difficult to commute back and forth, and I really wanted to build my charity work. I simply can’t do that if I am on the other side of the world."
Another reason she left LA was the realisation that her son Mark now has his own life to lead. "When I moved to LA I was single and didn’t want to be on my own. But everyone goes on to have their own life, and Mark got married. In the end I thought I might as well base myself here."
Plus, I have many friends here. I didn’t overly have friends in LA. I would work and come home and watch television. I don’t think I have watched television since I have come back. I have got a man and Strictly and my mother. I think I am going to be much happier here."
Shirley Ballas and her mum
Shirley also says the current series of Strictly is shaping up to be the best. "At the launch show I try to pick up the ones who don’t have their act together, but it was like opening a bottle of champagne and all the bubbles jumped out because everybody seems so excited.
"There was an energy that I have never witnessed before. And I thought the pairings were unpredictable, so I think it’s going to be a very interesting show with some real surprises."
The TV star owns houses in both Los Angeles and the United Kingdom. For her home in the United Kingdom, Shirley used interior design company The Sparkle Company who decorated the whole house.
Shirley previously told HELLO! that she is a "perfectionist" when it comes to hosting guests at her home, explaining: "I like the knives and forks to be in a straight line. I like the spoons and everything to be in the right line. I like the table to be beautiful with flowers and a nice tablecloth. I'm the hostess with the mostess."
READ: Couples who found love on Strictly, I'm a Celebrity! and other reality shows
SEE: James and Ola Jordan have an immaculate family home
Shirley Ballas and partner Danny
This will be Shirley's fourth series of Strictly – she took over after former head judge Len Goodman left in 2016.
This year's judging panel has a new look, too. While Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse, the sister of Strictly professional Oti, are back in their seats, Bruno Tonioli remains in the USA due to travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strictly pro Anton Du Beke also made his judging debut this year, after Motsi was required to make an 'urgent' return to Germany for two weeks.
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