BBC Strictly's Shirley Ballas reveals the reason Tom Cruise asked her for dance lessons

Shirley was approached by Tom Cruise for dance lessons (Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing's cherished judge Shirley Ballas has shared the charming tale of why A-list star Tom Cruise sought her expertise in dance.

The esteemed dance professional was reportedly approached by Tom Cruise to refine his dance moves, aiming to dazzle his then-wife Nicole Kidman.

In a 2017 interview with The Daily Star, she revealed: "I taught Tom Cruise to dance. I gave him salsa and mambo lessons when he was with Nicole Kidman. He wanted to surprise her for one of their anniversaries."

"He was good mind you, I was his teacher!" she added with pride. "He certainly knew that routine when he walked out that door."

Recounting the experience on ITV2's Celebrity Juice, Shirley praised his dancing prowess, commenting that "he could really move his hips", reports MyLondon.

Tom Cruise was previously married to Nicole Kidman (Image: WireImage)

In recent news, Shirley has sadly split up with boyfriend Danny Taylor after six years.

According to The Sun, the BBC judge has called time on their relationship and engagement, just months after she revealed that she was not ready to walk down the aisle again.

Speaking on Alan Carr's podcast in January, she admitted: "Two marriages, an engagement, two long-term relationships later and I will not be getting married again. I’ve made the decision."

Express Online have previously reached out to Shirley's representatives for comment.

Shirley has previously been married twice to dancer Sammy Stopford when she was only 18 and dancer Corky Ballas in 1985. Shirley and Corky divorced in 2007.

She met Danny Taylor during the 2018 winter pantomime season, when they were both starring in a Christmas stage production of Jack and The Beanstalk at the Liverpool Empire.