Judge Anton tells BBC: Now make me Strictly full-time!
ANTON DU BEKE has told Strictly Come Dancing bosses that he wants to be a permanent judge on the show next year.
The ballroom star, who has been one of the programme’s most popular professional dancers since it began in 2004, hopes his role on the panel last night could lead to a full-time position.
Friends of Anton, 54, say he has been eager ‘for quite some time’ to have a judging role and has been disappointed when outsiders have been brought in. Last night he sat in the prestigious seat after Motsi Mabuse had to urgently fly home to Germany and is now in quarantine for two weeks.
His chance came after he was the first to be booted off the current series with partner, ex-Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who said she was ‘pleased he was free to get the job’. One friend told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is a dream come true for Anton. For many years now he has fancied the role but has been beaten to it when the likes of Motsi and before that Shirley Ballas were brought in. He has been a trouper for Strictly, he has been given some less-than-able celebrities to dance with over the years and never, complains. He really will stop at nothing on his pitch to become a full-time judge.’
Comedian Bill Bailey and partner Oti Mabuse fell on the floor after receiving a 10 from Shirley for their street dance to Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang, and EastEnders star Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez did a ‘tremendous’ cha-cha-cha to Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Radio presenter Clara Amfo and partner Aljaz Skorjanec topped the leaderboard last night, with a score of 29 for their Charleston to Baby Face by Julie Andrews.