Anton admits eviction hurts, as he and Ruth pack their bags
IN 15 series of Strictly Come Dancing, he has just once reached the giddy heights of the final.
Anton Du Beke has claimed his eviction from the show along with celebrity partner Ruth Langsford last night was “by far the most difficult”, after the pair exited in week eight after an emotional performance.
Langsford and Du Beke were beaten in the dance off by Jonnie Peacock, the Paralympic gold medallist, and his partner Oti Mabuse, after judges ruled they had not improved enough in their foxtrot to Mack The Knife.
Judges had given them tough criticism on Saturday, with the broadcaster appearing tearful afterwards as she disclosed the song had been a favourite of her father’s. Awarded a score of just 18, some viewers accused the show of being a “fix”, marking them harshly after they missed the dance off last week and Aston Merrygold was eliminated.
Du Beke said he felt unusually emotional after being sent home from this weekend’s leg of the BBC One contest, as it would mean spending less time with his celebrity partner.
Their week eight exit comes before the show moves to the glittering Tower Ballroom in Blackpool next weekend.
As the judges made their unanimous decision, Du Beke said: “It’s a funny old thing this, getting voted off Strictly, it never gets any easier.”
He told Langsford: “The thing that upsets me most is not being able to spend all the time that we do together, you are beyond the most joyous person I’ve ever met.”
Meanwhile, Langsford said she felt “disappointed” that she had not been able to get “fabulous” Du Beke through to Blackpool week.
Langsford, who is married to broadcaster Eamonn Holmes, and Du Beke won viewers over with their relationship and comedy on the dance floor, even though they failed to score top marks for technical skill. They were saved last weekend, even after finishing their paso doble with a tumble.