‘It was very sad for my grandmother’
Strictly judge Shirley Ballas investigates her family roots in this week’s Who Do You Think You Are? and learns the truth behind some rumours
Shirley Ballas grew up believing her family folklore that her great grandmother Carla was a party girl who abandoned her children to move to America, causing her husband George to die of a broken heart. So it came as a shock when the Strictly Come Dancing judge researched
her family history in BBC1’S Who Do You Think You Are? only to find the rumour was completely untrue.
In fact George died of cancer, leaving all his money to his mother. So Clara probably didn’t have the means to look after her children, who were instead raised by his mother.
‘It surprised me that the whole story just wasn’t factual,’ says Shirley. ‘My grandmother died not knowing the truth about her mother and that’s very sad.’
Clara moved to America, married again and adopted another daughter but her second husband was adulterous and physically abusive so she bravely represented herself to file for divorce. ‘She wasn’t the woman everyone said she was,’ admits Shirley. ‘Clara stood up for her rights to protect her daughter.’
Shirley also explores the rumour that she has a black ancestor and discovers her
‘She wasn’t who they said she was’
three times greatgrandmother Caroline was a slave brought to South Africa from Madagascar. Shirley says, ‘It shows strength of character to survive through such difficult times.’ ● Who Do you Think you Are? continues on BBC1