Strictly judge Anton Du Beke on throwing out the rule book for the festive show, the rumours that he could be the new host and why he won’t be celebrating his big birthday
He started out as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and got promoted to the judging panel in 2021. Now, Anton Du Beke is being talked about as Strictly ’s next host. Presenting the dance competition would be a dream come true for the 59-year-old, as the top job would see him follow in the footsteps of his idol Sir Bruce Forsyth, whose legendary charisma launched the show in 2004 and turned it into the entertainment juggernaut it is today.
So how would the dance-show judge feel if he was offered the biggest job in showbiz? “Delighted I suppose but we’ll have to see if that ever comes up,” he chuckles modestly. “Wouldn’t that be lovely. Then I’ll have done all three jobs!”
Bruce left Strictly in 2014, but remained great friends with Anton until his death in 2017, with the pair regularly playing golf. “Bruce has always been a great hero of mine,” grins Anton. “I’ve always been inspired by what he did. I loved the way he entertained. I loved the style of entertainer he was.”
Anton is currently preparing to take his seat alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse on the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special , which features former Gogglebox regular Scarlett Moffatt, Gladiators’ Jodie Ounsley (aka Fury), EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey, comic Babatunde Aléshé, Westlife singer Brian McFadden and All Saints star Melanie Blatt.
For Anton, the Christmas Day show holds a special place in his heart, as it’s that little bit more fun and relaxed than the competitive Saturday night version. Only six couples take part in the Christmas show, but Anton reveals he has hardly ever missed a festive special, even in his dancing days.
“I absolutely love the Christmas Special,” he says. “If you get voted off early from the main show you invariably get a partner for the Christmas Special, so I’ve had a lot of partners over the years for the special having been voted off early on a number of occasions!”
And if he hasn’t had a partner on the Christmas show, Anton has offered to perform with the musical guest. He says, “I’ve danced in front of Michael Bublé a couple of times. It is such a lovely show and you get away with murder as well. I always try to be more ridiculous on the Christmas Special. You break all the rules. I love it.”
The judge is also very excited by the 2025 line-up. “I’ve played a lot of golf with Brian over the years and Scarlett, I might have given her some lessons years ago, so I know she can move,” shares Anton. “Melanie Blatt is exciting. And I can’t wait for Babatunde.”
As it’s Tess and Claudia’s final show, fans are bound to be emotional – as will the show’s cast and crew. “It will be emotional,” says Anton. “I’m sure they’ll have a couple of moments.”
Anton is also taking part in another much-loved show over the festive season – The Great British Sewing Bee Christmas Special 2025 . Along with comedian Lucy Beaumont, Gladiators ’ Tom Wilson (aka Hammer) and Taskmaster’ s Susan Wokoma, Anton will try his hand at some Santa-inspired stitches – and he may have a bit of an advantage over his competitors.
“When I started out dancing, we all used to make our own costumes so we’d all make our own frocks and the more years we did it, the better we got at it,” says Anton. “I never got into full tailoring but I did get into full dressmaking so for them to ask me to do it was a throwback! I hadn’t done anything for 35 years but it was really, really enjoyable. I absolutely loved it. I like anything sartorial anyway. This was the perfect job for me really.”
Anton got on so wonderfully with Lucy, he wants Strictly producers to sign her up for the next series. “Lucy would be a joy,” smiles Anton. “I would come back to dance with Lucy. Any of them on the show would be a joy.”
With his stage show Anton And Friends currently touring, Anton has never been busier. But there is another show he’s itching to be on: The Celebrity Traitors . “I’d love to do that,” says Anton. “If they’ll take me, I’ll come on. Wouldn’t that be fun!”
Anton, who has eight-year-old twins George and Henrietta with his wife Hannah, is embracing everything that comes his way – except his next birthday when he turns 60. “I can’t even bear it,” he despairs. “I didn’t realise until I read it myself. I thought I was turning 35. Staggering, isn’t it?
“I just don’t know how it’s happened, literally in a heartbeat, it’s just flown by. It’s all those old adages, they are true. I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the fact that I’m going to be that. I find it staggeringly upsetting.”
So will he celebrate with a party? “No,” he vows. “I’m going to slip into it quietly and ignore it and hopefully it will go past and people will think I’m still 35.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
