SHIRLEY Ballas is set to wed a third time after boyfriend Danny Taylor did a quickstep to the jewellers to buy an engagement ring.

Friends are hoping for an announcement in the new year that Strictly head judge Shirley, 61, will be waltzing up the aisle to marry actor Danny, 48.

He bought the diamond sparkler earlier this year — and she has been leaving it to him to propose, pals say.

But Shirley recently admitted stage and TV star Danny, who has appeared in The Bill and Brookside, is nervous about marriage and won’t be rushed into popping the question.

A source said last night: “Shirley and Danny are blissfully loved up — almost irritatingly so!

“They actually went ring shopping earlier this year, and after Shirley spotted one she liked, Danny went and bought it.

“Shirley is quite traditional, and definitely wants Danny to get down on one knee and do the proposing — after asking her mum for her blessing first.

“But Danny obviously wants it to be a surprise.

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“And also, understandably, he doesn’t want to feel pressurised into anything before he’s ready.

“Neither of them are in any hurry and they're really happy taking things day by day.

“Shirley and Danny are both just happy in the knowledge they’ll marry one day.

“But it is very much a question of when, not if.”

The pair met during panto rehearsals for Jack and the Beanstalk at the Liverpool Empire in 2018.

After starting out as pals, they eventually fell in love.

Former professional dancer Shirley, a Latin dance specialist, has become a viewer favourite — and a household name — since starting on the panel of the hit BBC1 dancing programme four years ago.

She divorced husband of four years and former ballroom star Sammy Stopford in 1984 and Corky Ballas, another ex-dancer, in 2007 after 22 years.

Danny has never previously wed.

Shirley recently moved her 85-year-old mother into the home she shares part-time with Danny.

The star has previously referred to her fella as “The One” and said in a recent magazine interview: “He’s very kind and very caring — he’s always there for me.

“I hope he’ll propose one day but he’s never married and I think he’s a bit nervous about it, so we’ll see. Come on, Danny!”

A spokeswoman for Shirley declined to comment last night.