Brendan beat me to that dance with Camilla
Anton defends Strictly pal Bruno: I’d floor them with my freestyling
Anton was at the Buckingham Palace bash where the Duchess of Cornwall took to the floor with Brendan Cole.
BBC bosses were said to be angered by any breach of protocol and insiders suggested it was one of the reasons Brendan, 41, got the axe from Strictly.
But Anton, 51, dismissed the furore and said he would have been the one to dance with Camilla – but quickstepping Brendan beat him to it.
Anton said: “It wasn’t a big deal. Camilla is lovely and I was chatting to her myself. It’s not that you are not allowed to dance with the royals but you are not allowed to put them in an uncomfortable position and not really allowed to address them personally.
“But it wasn’t like that because Camilla was there on her own as the host. Craig Revel Horwood was due to dance with her and she was standing there and Brendan said to her: ‘I don’t know if you would like to have a little dance’. But it certainly wasn’t a ‘thing’.
“In fact he only danced with her because I didn’t get there quick enough. I would have had a go myself !”
DEPARTURE
The hoo-ha blew up after Camilla hosted the dance in aid of the National Osteoporosis Society.
Anton, meanwhile, admitted he is still reeling from Brendan’s departure from Strictly after 14 years.
He said: “Strictly has lost one of the best dancers the show has had and I will miss him dearly. We have both been with the series since it started and he became like a brother to me.
“I can imagine it must have been a real blow for him but he is a tough cookie and will go on to have success in whatever he does.
“His wife is about to have a baby and I am delighted for them. It will be a lovely, positive thing.”
Anton hopes to sign his next Strictly contract later this month.
He added: “There has been talk about me being a head judge but those conversations are for another time when, or if, they ask. I would love to do it but I think the four judges are coming back as far as I am aware.”
The dance favourite also spoke fondly about legendary host Sir Bruce Forsyth, who died last August at the age of 89.
Anton contributed to a BBC1 tribute which goes out next Sunday and said of Brucie: “I miss him terribly. He was my hero growing up and in many ways he became like a dad to me.
“We have both got a bit of a chin on us and we had this thing going on.
“There were the love child gags and we had a lot of fun with that. We also took the mick out of our resemblance by performing Me And My Shadow. It’s something I still perform on tour and have as a track on my album.”
Anton became a dad to twins a year ago but has kept busy with Strictly, his album, writing a book – and is now on tour.
And he heaped praise on his wife Hannah for making it all possible. He said: “She is an incredible woman, a wonderful mum to our one-year-old twins and fabulously supportive.”
Hannah gave birth to a boy and girl after struggling to get Frank Brendan and Camilla waltz pregnant until the couple had IVF at the ARGC fertility clinic in London. Anton has never spoken about it before but he revealed: “Hannah spent the best part of a year preparing her body with different treatments and different drugs and it was very intense. But it was worth it and we got pregnant the first time so that was incredible.”
Anton, currently on his tenth tour, From Broadway to Hollywood with dance partner Erin Boag, tries to be home each night to put his tots to bed.
He added: “I never thought I wanted kids before I met Hannah. But I have FRANK Bruno says he might sign up for Strictly – if they let him breakdance. The boxing legend revealed he has been approached a number of times but may finally be ready to accept their offer for the 2018 series. He told fans at embraced being a husband and dad and love it. I’d have 20 of them if I could... but I would need a bigger house first!” features@trinitymirror.co.uk A Night With Frank Bruno in Hayes, Middlesex: “I would like to do Strictly. I’ve been practising my moves in the bathroom. I’d like to do some freestyling.”
The star, 56, would be following in the footsteps of fellow boxers Anthony Ogogo, Joe Calzaghe and Audley Harrison. A source close to BBC1 show Strictly said: “The public Anton will sign again for Strictly would enjoy Frank – he’s a funny person.” Insiders also revealed Bruno has had conversations with bosses of ITV’S I’m A Celeb.
After retiring from boxing in 1995, father-of-four Frank has dedicated his time to helping those with mental health issues. He documented his own battles in his 2017 memoir Let Me Be Frank.