Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas says her ex would ‘sit and stare’ at her if food portion was ‘too big’

Shirley Ballas described her relationship with food as ‘difficult’ (Picture: ITV)

Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas recalled tough moments in a past relationship because her ex husband had ‘a thing about weight’ and made her feel uncomfortable if he felt she had eaten too much.

The professional dancer described her relationship with food as ‘difficult’ and she is now conscious of what she eats.

She told Radio Times that although there are ‘issues that are ongoing’, she is in a much better place now with her current partner Danny who ‘loves every bit of me’.

Shirley, 60, said: ‘I’ve got a difficult relationship with food, one million percent. My ex-husband [Corky Ballas] had a thing about weight, as he was in such beautiful shape himself.

‘He would just sit and stare at me if he felt that I’d eaten a portion size that was too big. That was always difficult, so I wouldn’t say that my relationship with food was the best.

‘But it can go one of two ways: you can use food as a comfort, or you can become really conscious about what you eat – and I’d say the latter is me. Those habits die hard. I’m not going to lie, those issues are ongoing – but Danny [Taylor, Shirley’s partner] is probably the first person who has liked every bit of me, whether I’m a few pounds lighter or a few pounds heavier.

‘He doesn’t see all that. Life with him is the easiest it’s ever been with any man.’

Shirley and fellow Strictly judges Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood will be joined by long time star Anton Du Beke on the panel for 2021 as he replaces Bruno Tonioli.

Shirley will be reunited with judges Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood (Picture: BBC)

Anton described himself as a ‘kinder’ judge in a cheeky swipe at the current line-up, known for their exacting standards.

‘I’m not going to be gushing about everybody. I shall be expecting them to dance well as they want to dance but I shall be understanding.’

Sending an indirect message to Craig, he added: ‘I shall try to show a bit of positivity.

‘Because there won’t be much coming down from that end of the chairs, will there?’

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