Popular dancer doesn’t want show to lose its magic
he has been a huge part of the show over the years. But people do come and go on the show, and we end up having new professionals and they all fit into the Strictly family beautifully. lovely with me. If any of the new guys want to come up and ask my advice then it’s nice, I enjoy it.
“I also like to encourage, tell people they are doing something wonderful – whether it is one of the new guys or one of the old guys.”
His attitude and popularity rity with the show’s fans saw him m become a bookie’s favourite to replace Len Goodman when he stepped down as head judge in 2016.
The job ultimately went to Shirley Ballas but Anton would certainly be open to offers in future.
He said: “It’s one of those ose things, I’ll wait to be asked.d. If it happens, we’ ll sit down andd hhave a conversation about it. But until that point, I just worry about dancing and doing the best I can with that.”
Anton has expanded his repertoire beyond dance, presenting on TV and releasing a successful album, From The Top, last year. It included showstoppers, classics and even a cover of the Arctic Monkeys’ I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor. His novel, One Enchanted Evening, set in 1936 during a golden age of dance, has added to his status as an all-round entertainer. Anton ssaid writing a book didn’t feel liklike a stretch, because “in a senssense there is a performance”. HeH added: “It is something I hhave always wanted to ddo and I have the coconfidence now to bang on sosomebody’s door and say, ‘I wwant to do this.’ “And I do have the oppoopportunity to work with the best ppeople.” His momost enduring relationship hhas bbeen withithBBoag, herself a former Strictly professional. They have been dancing together for more than 20 years and their secret is something the current crop of Strictly stars may want to heed. Anton said: “Erin was asked once what the secret of the partnership was and she said, ‘Marrying other people’. I thought that was hilarious and probably true as well.”
We had a lovely time. h Susanna has a l wonderfu ity personal