‘Strictly Come Dancing’ head judge Shirley Ballas says her only real wish for the new year is to hug her son - because she’s not seen him for two-and-a-half years.
Shirley Ballas wishes to hug her son after not seeing him for almost three years
The ballroom dancer, 61, would love to embrace her 35-year-old son Mark Ballas, because they have been kept apart due to the coronavirus pandemic, with him living in Los Angeles, and she resides in the UK.
She said: "My only real wish for 2022 is that I get to cuddle my son. As has been the case for many other people as far as their loved ones are concerned, I haven't seen him for a long time - not in two-and-a-half years, in fact.
"I just want to spend some time with him, to sit and have a coffee and shoot the breeze."
Shirley, who has won several dance championship titles, admitted giving birth to her son was her number one achievement in life.
She said: "Giving birth to my son when I was 25 was a life highlight because having him was the best thing I ever did in my entire life.
"Mark also performs on stage as an actor and singer - he was on Broadway playing Frankie Valli in 'Jersey Boys', Charlie Price in 'Kinky Boots', and has had many other roles - so I get a lot of tips from him."
The only present Shirley will enjoy this Christmas is the “gift of the company" around her as she is so grateful to have her 84-year-old mother Audrey Rich, who overcame a battle with colon cancer, around still.
Speaking to Kent Life magazine, she added: “To be with those I love is enough of a gift for me."
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