He’s only been a Strictly Come Dancing judge since the start of this series – apart from a two-week stint last year – but it already feels like Anton Du Beke has been there forever. And now we can’t imagine it any other way. Seeing him on the panel, suited and booted, and displaying his wit, warmth and wisdom brings us great joy – and we’re not ashamed to admit it.
Anton, 55, loves his new role on the show as much as we like him being there, and it’s clear when we meet that he’s never been happier – although he admits to still having the odd urge to join in on the dance floor.
The professional dancer, who’s been on Strictly since it started in 2004, is here to talk to us about his forthcoming role as Buttons in the panto Cinderella. But our chat veers on to other topics, such as his favourite dance pair and what he’ll do if ex-judge Bruno Tonioli wants his seat back.
Anton, who lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife Hannah and their four-year-old twins Henrietta and George, tells us about his showbiz mates, why his son no longer cries when he sees his dad on the telly and why getting home to his family every night is more important to him than any job…
You’re smashing it as a judge Anton, but are you missing dancing?
I am a bit, especially when I see a number I wish I’d done, or hear a song and go, “I’d love to have done that.” Like when Tom Fletcher danced a foxtrot to Fly Me To The Moon. I wanted to nudge him out of the way and have a dance with Amy [Dowden]. I don’t think he’d have appreciated that. But I’m not missing the bit where they go, “And not dancing next week is…” I’m loving coming back every week, so I’ll carry on judging please.
As a judge, have you had any awkwardness with the pro dancers?
No, I love them all enormously. Nikita [Kuzmin] came up to me last week and said, “I don’t know what you were like as a dancer and I didn’t see you as a competitor.” He probably wasn’t born when I was competing! He said, “You’re an excellent judge.” I thought that was lovely, with this being his first year. But all the other guys who I’ve known for years are being gorgeous about it. They’re delighted I’m judging.
Did your co-judges give you any tips before you started?
Len Goodman [former judge] called me and said, “The only advice I can give you is be yourself and say what you see.”
If Bruno returns, would you happily go back dancing?
To be honest, I haven’t got anything to say about that because it’s not a decision I can make. We’ll leave that until next year I suppose. Ask me next year!
Who are you rooting for?
I don’t have any favourites. It sounds a bit disingenuous but it’s because every week is different. One week you get a fabulous dance and finish top of the leaderboard. The next week you get a rumba and you’re bottom of the leaderboard and could be in the dance-off. The shorter the leaderboard gets, the more chance anybody could end up in a dance-off. The great thing about this year’s show is it’s a volatile leaderboard. People are all over the place and I love that. It feels like the old days.
Are you surprised by the calibre of celebrity that signs up to the show?
No, not really, because Strictly is such an enormous show and such an incredible thing to be able to do. I think a lot of people’s diaries have made them unable to do it because it’s a full commitment. A lot of people say, “I’d love to be able to do it, but I think I’d be terrible.” That’s the fear. If they can get over that they’d have had the greatest of times. Look at Bill Bailey from last year – ending up winning it. Who’d have thought? It was a great surprise and just charming.
You’re playing Buttons in Cinderella this year. Are you excited?
I can’t wait. We’re going to have theatres full of children, adults and grannies, the whole lot, so it’s going to be a lot of fun. Buttons
in Cinderella is a brilliant role. You have a wonderful connection with the audience – they’re so on your side.
Will there be lots of dancing?
There’ll be some dancing for some numbers. And some nights there might be extra dancing. That’ll be when I’ve forgotten my lines! I’m not used to lines, I’m used to choreography.
Will your kids be going to see you in the panto?
Yeah, it’s going to be great. A plumber came around and George, who’s four-and-a-half, said, “My daddy is on Strictly Come Dancing.” And I went, “Yes!” It’s so gorgeous, isn’t it? Once upon a time, a couple of years ago, I would go on television and dance and they’d burst into tears. They couldn’t quite understand what I was doing there and couldn’t quite get it. But now they love it and get all excited.
The Send To All game on Michael McIntyre’s TV show proved you have quite a few celebrity friends…
It was funny when we were putting that together because he wanted people like my plumber or gardener and I don’t really have their numbers. But I have a few famous names in my phone. I’ve been lucky. I’ve met a lot of lovely people. Reverend Richard Coles christened the children. Isn’t that nice? I did a duet with Gary Barlow in the lockdown. Gary’s my showbiz best friend. I played a round of golf with Michael a few days ago – I have so many lovely friends.
For more celebrity exclusives, sign up to our newsletter here: https://www.ok.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/
Source: Read Full Article
