Strictly: Anton Du Beke says he 'won't miss being voted off'
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Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke, 55, has opened up about his time before joining the BBC dance show in 2004. The star, who never won the coveted glitterball trophy during his 17 years as a professional dancer on the show, was promoted to the judging panel ahead of the 19th series, which is set to start later this year.
I was out of control, a bit destructive to myself
Anton Du Beke
Anton shot to instant stardom after appearing on Strictly when it first aired in 2004 and quickly gained a reputation as a charming, smiling dance pro.
However, in a new interview, the star has candidly admitted that he was the complete opposite of his on-screen Strictly persona.
“I was an absolute lunatic,’ he told The Daily Mail.
Anton explained: “In my competition days I was the polar opposite of the patient, charming person you see on Strictly.
“I was the least patient person you can imagine.”
The star said that his determination to win was a “destructive” personality trait, before going on to joke that he owed a long-overdue apology to his former dance partner, Erin Boag.
Anton portrayed an image of himself far from the newly-promoted Strictly judge that we know and love today, one who had an insatiable appetite to come first in dance competitions.
He said: “I wasn’t charming. I was out of control, a bit destructive to myself, to my dance partner Erin, impatient to win.
“I wanted it all, and five minutes ago. I should apologise to Erin, really,” Anton added.
Last month Anton confirmed his new role as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, after 17 years of appearing on the dancefloor.
Upon becoming a judge for this year’s series, Anton said: “My loves I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno’s brogues for the next series of Strictly.
“It’s a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them have ever been to me.”
The news comes as former judge Bruno Tonioli stays in America for this year’s series.
Speaking to BBC Sounds about his new role on the show, Anton told how he doesn’t plan on being “tough” on the contestants like “one or two” of his fellow judges on the show later this year.
He will give his verdict on this year’s dancing duos alongside head judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
On what sort of judge he plans to be, he said he will tell the celebrities what they need to improve on but will be “empathetic” as he understands what they’re going through.
Anton acknowledged that it “doesn’t take much” for a dance to go wrong, so will bear that factor in mind when he critiques.
He spilt: “Being able to judge is exciting because I’ve been on the other side since the beginning and I know exactly what they’re trying to do and what they’re trying to achieve. And, I know that it’s a live show, you get one go and it doesn’t always go right.”
Anton added of his fellow judges: “I know that one or two of the judges will be a bit harsh and I shall be a bit more empathetic I think.
“I will give my technical expertise, if you like, and tell them the things I think they need to improve on.”
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