SHIRLEY Ballas’s ex-fiancé Danny Taylor was supported by pals as he joined the congregation at Linda Nolan’s funeral.
The 51-year-old actor, who has previously worked with Linda, was seen looking sombre as he arrived with a glamorous red head who offered him emotional support.
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The pair kept a low profile as they arrived at the service, before Linda’s glittery pink coffin was brought in by pallbearers at St Paul’s Church in Blackpool.
Looping arms, they leaned on each other for support before entering the church.
While Danny wore a suit, the woman he was with wore a chic black coat with fur-trimmed collar.
They were joined at the event by celebrity loved ones and pals, including Linda’s sisters, Coleen, Anne, Maureen and Denise Nolan, as well as Paul Chuckle, Shane Ritchie, Charlotte Dawson and Tommy Cannon.
After news of Linda’s death was announced, Liverpudlian Danny shared a tribute to her, revealing Linda to be a mother-figure for him during his time in the industry, working alongside her in a West End production of Blood Brothers.
“My dear showbiz mam and friend who like many I absolutely loved and adored,” he wrote.
“An absolute force of nature with the DNA of the role of Mrs Johnstone running through her veins which she made so brilliantly her own.”
He declared Linda was: “feisty, loyal, funny, inspirational and much more with bigger balls than any fella I’ve ever known.”
“My thoughts are with her glorious sisters, family and pals that are grieving her loss right now. One in a million but at least your back with your beloved Brian and of course Bernie.
“Thank you for being there xxxx Love and miss you already. So so sad ..YNWA.”
Shirley Ballas, 64, splits from her toyboy fiance, 51, as curse of Strictly strikes again
Actor Danny, who has appeared in a string of theatre shows as well as Brookside and Game On and The Liver Birds, made news in November last year after splitting with Strictly star Shirley Ballas.
The couple were together for six years, meeting while in a panto production of Jack and The Beanstalk, before getting engaged in 2021.
However, the couple later called off the engagement in 2024, with Shirley stating she’d “changed her mind” about marriage, before they split for good in November 2024.
A source told The Sun: “As with any break-up, it is, of course, a very sad situation.
“She gave her all to that relationship and in the end came to the realisation that it wasn’t going anywhere. She made a lot of effort to see Danny and support his theatre and panto work, travelling up and down the country.
“Distance also played its part – Shirley lives in London with her mother and Danny remains based in Liverpool; that commute is a killer.
“But Shirley is a strong, resilient character and is looking better than ever. She will 100% bounce back – 2025 promises to be an absolute corker for her.”
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