Shirley Ballas’ toyboy ‘vanished’ as terrified Strictly star feared for his life
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has opened up about the moment her toyboy fiancé Daniel Taylor disappeared and left his family, friends and loved ones deeply concerned for his safety11:12, 30 Aug 2025Shirley and Daniel broke up back in November 2024(Image: Getty Images)Shirley Ballas’ toyboy fiancé “disappeared” and left his loved ones in deep distress.The Strictly Come Dancing judge has recalled the precise instant her world fell apart while cuddling in bed with her 87-year-old mother Audrey on her 64th birthday. A family member of her fiancé Danny Taylor told her he’d vanished, that his phone was switched off and his relatives were deeply concerned about him.Shirley shared her story with the Mirror ahead of her new autobiography Best Foot Forward and the star was overwhelmed by memories of her brother David, who ended his own life in 2003 at just 44-years-old. “All those memories came flooding back…it triggered all these emotions,” reports the Mirror.She spent hours desperately attempting to locate Danny and at 2am she noticed her WhatsApp messages to Danny had been opened. Relief transformed into fury when Danny resurfaced the following day and behaved as though nothing had happenedShirley’s autobiography is set to be released in September”I will never forget that day until the day I die. I remember looking across in the middle of the night and I saw my mother was just so upset, reliving all of her trauma. I just thought: ‘This can’t go on’. Not just for my sake, but my mum too.””I still loved him but I thought this is something I can’t continue to be a part of. It’s all very sad.”She and Danny, her junior by 13 years, first crossed paths during a pantomime production in 2018. The television personality was playing Mother Nature while Danny took on the villainous role of Fleshcreep in Jack And The Beanstalk at a Liverpool theatre.Shirley realised something was very wrong and couldn’t continue with the relationship(Image: Dave J Hogan, Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Warner Bros)She confessed to falling completely smitten with him and the pair were later engaged in 2021: “There was no question about how much I loved that man and he came into my life at a point when I really, really needed it and he was such a caring person, but what’s the nicest way to say this?””Along the line, there were red flags that I chose to ignore, but it just got to a point where the relationship was becoming too difficult for me in many ways.”The couple were together for six years before they broke things off(Image: SOPA Images, SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Shirley describes Danny as someone who was a “drifter by nature” and revealed that following any disagreement or heated exchange, communication would cease for days. This behaviour bore striking similarities to her father’s tendency to disappear during her younger years.”We weren’t growing together anymore, and I was getting more and more worried about things that were going on in his life, and I already have a lot of things to worry about. I just needed some peace.”The Strictly star admitted she just wanted a calm life(Image: Dave J Hogan, Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images)Following their break up, contact between them has been minimal. While they occasionally exchange text messages, it appears Shirley has been making most of the effort.”We still haven’t seen each other face to face since that night, which I’ve asked for many times. I’m a person who needs closure, and it’s just never closed. I always think it’s nice to sit in a room, because when people write text messages, you don’t really know the tone.”Article continues belowJoin the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots moreThe Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.To join our community, all you have to do to join isclick on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.CLICK HERE TO JOINHave you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz hereWant all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter More