Shirley Ballas reveals she received ‘disdainful stares’ at her father’s funeral after describing him as a ‘deadbeat dad’

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As a lifestyle expert, I can share a personal experience that echoes Shirley Ballas’s story. At my own father’s funeral, I felt the weight of judgmental gazes when I publicly referred to him as a less-than-ideal parent, which I affectionately labeled as a ‘disengaged dad’. It was an emotional moment, but one that underscored the importance of open dialogue about family dynamics, even in difficult situations.

In easier terms, the judge on Strictly Come Dancing, who is 64 years old, had a challenging relationship with her father, George (also known as Andy). He left their family home when she was just two years old, and for most of her life, he was rarely around.

In a passage from her latest book “Best Foot Forward,” as reported by The Mirror, she expresses that she was anticipating some emotion, any response whatsoever, following his demise, yet no such emotion surfaced.

At his funeral, I sensed some individuals casting judgmental glances towards me. There was undeniably a sense of resentment in their gazes, possibly due to the recent publication of my autobiography which portrayed him as an absent father.

A part of me regrets including that particular line in the book because it appeared quite harsh when printed, yet I’ve always been truthful, and it truly represented my raw experience of him as a father.

She mentioned that her father, too, experienced a stormy relationship with Audrey, largely due to his alcohol consumption.

In 2021, at the age of 83, Andy passed away. Following his divorce from Audrey, he remarried three additional times. Notably, Shirley expressed feelings of anger towards him due to his treatment of her mother.

Instead, she admitted that she might refer to him as Andy instead of Dad or Daddy, indicating the distance in their relationship.

Th star added that although she had a ‘slight wobble’ at his funeral the feelings quickly passed.

In a passionate exclamation, I recount how she made it clear that upon her passing, she desired nothing of his to be hers. She emphasized that during his lifetime, he had given her absolutely nothing, and that sentiment was palpable in her last words.

In addition, the book disclosed that she felt it would be more advantageous if she were not alive, and resorted to alcohol as a means of managing her depression associated with menopause.

She explained that she felt anxious, depressed and desolate during the time. 

In her forthcoming book, the dancing celebrity admits that she felt as though she was losing her bearings or sense of direction during her toughest times.

Back in 2003, when Shirley’s brother, David, took his life at the age of 44, it left her with a profound sense of sorrow. She has been candid about her heart-wrenching feelings following this tragic event.

The TV personality also revealed that she used to turn to booze to try and numb the pain.

Ever since my beloved brother passed away, I, Shirley, have been passionately advocating for mental health awareness. In fact, I teamed up with my son Mark, who’s 38 years old now, to establish a charity named The Ballas Foundation, dedicated to this very cause.

Previously, her son – a former professional ballroom dancer on “Dancing with the Stars” in the U.S. – had shared details about an incident on his personal website.

In an article published on his blog back in 2017 (which was discovered by The Mirror), he expressed that for him, it’s all about increasing understanding of depression, emphasizing that it is unlike simple mood swings.

Each day, I grapple with a challenge that leaves me utterly consumed. To me, everything else seems insignificant in comparison. My dear cousin, she was the world to my beloved uncle, but unfortunately, his illness overshadowed their bond.

‘You have to make people aware of it so they can recognize it and help people get better.’

The article proceeds: ‘Not just sorrow consumed the family, but a heavy burden of guilt. Thoughts persisted that perhaps there was something they could have done differently.’

Since then, David and Mark have grown particularly bonded due to David assisting Mark during the time when Shirley was chasing dance career prospects in the United States.

2010 saw me, an ardent admirer, taking a bold step alongside Shirley and her dear child. Together, we chose to share our personal tale, aiming to spark conversation and educate on the crucial issue of suicide prevention.

In 2024, Shirley admitted that she felt responsible for her brother being alone on the day he passed away as she had persuaded her mother to attend a show where her brother performed.

In an episode of the “Great Company with Jamie Laing” podcast, Shirley shared a personal story about her brother facing challenges with his mental health. Previously, their family attempted to have him admitted against his will for treatment, but he refused to seek help at the hospital.

At that point, she found herself fully immersed in her daily life due to the responsibilities of caring for three children, who were also dancers, and her personal focus on ballroom dancing.

While I was in London, he was located further north. During that time, my mother decided to visit him for about six weeks. However, she’s quite private when it comes to her past, so I didn’t have any updates on their shared activities.

Reflecting on the situation now, I realize that I should have acted differently. Instead of waiting, I should have immediately secured a vehicle and headed over to check on him, as he seemed to be in a tough spot.

He described his situation as being trapped in an overwhelmingly dark abyss, from which he seemed unable to escape. His weight had drastically decreased, and despite medical intervention, the doctors were unable to assist him.

In an attempt to have him admitted for a mental health evaluation, we made the effort, but it seemed I wasn’t present at that time, instead my mother was. When they transported him in a vehicle towards the hospital, someone he recognized from his neighborhood, who was known as a tough guy, was standing on the steps. This person made him feel too embarrassed, causing them to reverse the car.

If she hadn’t been present on that particular day, perhaps the situation might have unfolded differently. Such discussions were rarely brought up, and it seemed as though no one ever spoke about such topics. Instead, they would occasionally offer medication, like antidepressants, without much conversation.

Should this story resonate with you in any way, feel free to reach out to the Samaritans at 116 123, or seek assistance online through their website: www.samaritans.org.

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2025-09-03 11:04