SHOCK: Strictly’s Shirley Ballas in love triangle as rumoured toyboy’s ex calls her out
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has found herself at the centre of fresh romance speculation after the ex-fiancée of dancer Giuseppe Nonnis spoke publicly about the pair’s apparent closeness.
Shirley, 66, and Giuseppe, 36, have recently been seen together on several occasions, including during a dog walk and at a Mamma Mia! The Party celebration for her birthday.
The pair have also worked together professionally and shared Latin dance clips on Instagram while promoting a dance camp.
Neither Shirley nor Giuseppe has confirmed that they are romantically involved.
But Giuseppe’s former fiancée Dasha Chesnokova, 38, has now said she would regard a relationship between them as “the ultimate betrayal”.
Dasha Says Shirley Was Like a ‘Dance Mum’
Dasha told The Sun on Sunday that her reaction would be especially painful because of her long relationship with Shirley.
She said the Strictly judge had acted as a mentor to her for years and that they had known each other for around two decades.
“I have looked up to [Shirley] for years,” Dasha said.
“If they were together I would be so hurt.”
She described Shirley as someone who had been “like a dance mum” to her.
“She’s a mature woman and I’m a young girl compared to her,” Dasha said.
“She’s known me a long time and has been like a dance mum to me.”
Dasha added that Shirley had known how serious her relationship with Giuseppe had been.
“It would be like your mum taking your boyfriend,” she said.
“She knew how much we loved each other so to be with him romantically would be the ultimate betrayal.”
Her comments reflect how she says she would feel if the romance speculation proves true. Neither Shirley nor Giuseppe has publicly confirmed a relationship.
Romance Rumours Reportedly Began Months Ago
According to Dasha, questions about Shirley and Giuseppe had already started circulating within dance circles earlier this year.
She claimed people began asking her as far back as April whether Giuseppe had moved in with Shirley.
Dasha acknowledged that he has stayed at Shirley’s home, but said he was not living there.
The increased public appearances have nevertheless fuelled speculation.
Shirley and Giuseppe were photographed sitting closely together on a park bench during a dog walk, while they have also attended events together and appeared in dance-related social media content.
So far, however, neither has addressed whether their connection goes beyond friendship and professional collaboration.
Shirley and Dasha Have Known Each Other Since 2008
Dasha said she first met Shirley in 2008 after arriving in the US with her Dancing with the Stars partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy.
She said Shirley soon became a mentor and remained a source of support through difficult moments in her personal life.
That included the breakdown of Dasha’s marriage to Stefano Di Filippo, whom she married in 2016.
According to Dasha, the long history between the two women is one of the reasons the current speculation has affected her so strongly.
Shirley Has Been Single Since Danny Taylor Split
Shirley is believed to have been single since separating from actor Danny Taylor in November 2024.
The couple had been together for six years and were engaged.
Shirley later said a difficult period around her 64th birthday contributed to the end of the relationship.
She recalled that Danny temporarily became unreachable, which brought back painful memories connected to the loss of her brother and ultimately contributed to her decision to end the romance.
Neither Shirley Nor Giuseppe Has Confirmed Romance
Despite the attention surrounding their recent appearances, there has been no public confirmation from either Shirley or Giuseppe that they are a couple.
The speculation has largely been driven by photographs, their professional work together and comments from Dasha.
That means claims of a romance remain unverified.
For Dasha, however, even the possibility has clearly struck a nerve because of the personal history involved.
Her remarks have now added another layer of scrutiny around Shirley just as the new Strictly Come Dancing series gets under way.
Until either Shirley or Giuseppe addresses the rumours directly, the nature of their relationship remains unclear.
