ANTON DU BEKE steps aside from the dancefloor to become a Strictly Come Dancing judge
WALTZES ONTO THE JUDGES PANEL TO FULFIL HIS ‘STRICTLY’ DREAM
He’s the longest- serving professional on Strictly Come Dancing – but this series Anton du Beke will be hanging up his dance shoes and joining the judging panel instead.
The 54-year-old entertainer, who has competed every year since the show began in 2004, partnering celebrities including Judy Murray and Ann Widdecombe, will be taking long-serving judge Bruno Tonioli’s seat while he is busy on the panel of Dancing with the Stars in the US.
And after acting as a temporary judge for two episodes last year, Anton couldn’t be happier to be joining Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas full time.
“I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno’s brogues,” he said. “It’s a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best, and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them [the judges] have ever been to me.”
Reacting to the announcement, Bruno said: “Whilst I am gutted to not be on the show this year, there is one person and one person only that could take my place – it’s just a shame they weren’t available… ha ha!
“Darlings, I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Seriously, though, I have to tell you, Anton is Mr Strictly and if anybody is filling in for me, it has to be him. I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way and I am so excited to see him waggle his paddle.”
Speaking exclusively to hello! last year, Anton, who has four-year-old twins Henrietta and George with wife Hannah, told us he wouldn’t mind being a judge on a permanent basis.
“If somebody decided they didn’t want to come back for some reason and they said: ‘’Ere, would you like to do it?’ I’d say: ‘Yeah.’ But otherwise, I’m happy to dance,” he said.
‘I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno’s brogues’