Is Anton f inally set to waltz to Strictly glory?
AFTER 15 years on Strictly Come Dancing, Anton du Beke may finally be on course for victory after reaching the semi-final this weekend.
The veteran professional, who in previous series has performed with celebrities including Ann Widdecombe, Ruth Langsford and Judy Murray, has not always had the most graceful of partners.
He made the 2015 final with Last Night Of The Proms presenter Katie Derham, finishing fourth. But fans of Du Beke, 53, now believe ‘this could be his year’, after he scored a perfect ten with his dancing partner, EastEnders actress Emma Barton.
Du Beke and Miss Barton, 42, received their highest score of the competition on Saturday – 39 points – with their charleston to Thoroughly Modern Millie from the 1967 musical film of the same name. They finished joint second on the leaderboard alongside former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, 35, and his partner Oti Mabuse, 29.
While Fletcher has consistently come out on top throughout the series, fans are keen to see Du Beke take this year’s title.
Sarah Stocker wrote on Twitter: ‘Anton du Beke to the final of Strictly. I 100 per cent want you and Emma Barton to win. Come on, it HAS to be your year.’ Another said: ‘You’ve had my vote every week, Anton. Emma has just got better and better and better. You were both absolutely fabulous tonight. Truly you were... You are going to get into the final.’
Since Strictly began in 2004, Du Beke, who has twins with wife Hannah Summers, has failed to score a single ten – until this series when he and Miss Barton scored two tens in Blackpool. In October Du Beke told Chris Evans on his Virgin radio show that Miss Barton could go ‘all the way’ in the competition.
When asked if he could too, Du Beke joked: ‘I’ll take the inhaler and I’ll be fine. [I’ll] lie down in the afternoons.’
Meanwhile, TV football pundit Alex Scott was the latest celebrity to leave the competition as judges chose to save comedian Chris Ramsey, 33, during last night’s dance-off.
Miss Scott, 35, and her partner Neil Jones, 37, finished bottom of the leaderboard on musicals week, scoring 27 points for their samba, despite judge Craig Revel Horwood saying he ‘really enjoyed’ it.