Shirley Ballas is finally able to embrace Christmas again thanks to 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Shirley Ballas
The 58-year-old judge - who replaced Len Goodman on the show in 2017 - and her other Audrey have struggled over the festive season since the suicide of Shirley's brother David 15 years ago but she admitted she's now "finally understood" that life goes on.
Shirley told You magazine: "There was no way we could enjoy Christmas without David. I couldn't believe he wasn't there, eating his treble helpings of Christmas dinner with ten glasses of milk. David wasn't a drinker but he loved milk and chocolate - he was a chocoholic!
"After David died, Mum threw away all the decorations. I was living in the US and we always got together as a family - sometimes his daughter Mary would go to her mother's, sometimes she'd come to me, usually quietly watching films on television and wishing it would be over. It was all a little bit solemn...
"Last year I was the new girl but this year I feel a full part of Strictly and it's impossible not to be inspired by such a sparkly merry-go-round of a show. The fans have sent me so many beautiful, supportive messages about my brother, it's all helped me reinvent Christmas, so for the first time in years, the house will feel celebratory like it used to."
And Shirley plans to pay tribute to David on December 25.
She explained: "There will be a place at the table for David, a photo of him and Mary by the tree, and I'll buy a massive box of Cadbury's Dairy Milk for him. It's taken a long time, but I've finally understood that life goes on and that we must make the most of every second."
Meanwhile, the Queen of Latin - who was previously married to Sammy Stopford and Corky Ballas, the father of her son Mark - admitted landing her job on 'Strictly' meant a lot to her.
She said: "[It] really boosted my confidence. People might not realise I needed that boost but, as an older woman in my industry, getting that job meant so much."
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