New series? Anton’s Strictly in dark
STRICTLY favourite Anton Du Beke is still waiting to hear whether he is wanted for the next series of the smash hit show, he revealed yesterday.
Speculation about his future is rife after Brendan Cole, 41, was sacked by the BBC last week following a string of on-air spats.
Anton, 51, is now Strictly’s only professional to have appeared in all 15 series.
But the dancer told ITV’s Lorraine: “We don’t really know what’s going on.
“The way it works is they call everybody at the same time and then the discussions start.
“The one thing you do know is whether you are not going to be asked to come back – and that’s the call you dread, you never want.”
Brendan’s exit has sparked fears BBC bosses plan to axe some of Strictly’s longest-serving stars to breathe new life into the contest. Despite never lifting the glitterball trophy Anton remains a huge hit with fans.
Last year he was paired with This Morning presenter Ruth Langsford, 57.
He said he was “stunned” to learn Brendan had been given his marching orders. “I was heartbroken for him – and for me. I’m going to miss him enormously,” he said. “Having been there since the beginning – we’ve got a sort of brother-in-arms thing.”
New Zealand-born Brendan has said he thinks his reputation for arguing with the judges – and a public clash with head judge Shirley Ballas – was the reason show bosses pulled the plug.
His feud with Shirley, 57, started after he lost out on the head judge vacancy created when Len Goodman retired in 2016.
Brendan said: “They’ve made an editorial decision to not have me back. I’m quite emotional, a bit raw.
“I’m sure I’ll never know the ins and outs. I’m a very strong character within the show, I have strong views.”
Asked if his friend’s exit had made the professional dancers feel they had to mind their manners Anton, who is a father to year-old twins, said: “I don’t think that was anything to do with it. It’s the same every year when you come to the end of a run. With us it’s a year-byyear thing.”
The BBC said the pro line-up for the 16th series of Strictly, which airs in September, “will be revealed in due course”.