ANTON FEARS CHA-CHA CHOP Cole-style exit haunts star
WE GO TOGETHER BOUNCY’ MABUSE
STRICTLY star Anton Du Beke e fears he could be axed from m the show – just like his old d friend Brendan Cole.
The ballroom dancer, 53, said show ow business could be ruthless and he feared it could all “end tomorrow”. ”.
Cole, 43, left the show two years ars ago after 15 years, following angry gry run-ins with head judge Shirley Ballas. llas.
And Anton has had his own clashes shes with Shirley this year, telling her in week seven after she criticised his partner rtner Emma Barton “there’s no need for or you to say any more – you’re welcome to say nothing else”.
Anton said of Cole: “I love him dearly. But one day you’re in; the next, you’re u’re out.
“I still see him. He’s doing great. . He and his wife had a second baby, a little boy.
“He’s earning a decent living. But ut being let go by Strictly knocked him massively. sively.
“We have ave very different temperaments. He’s passionate, fiery.
“I’ve always tried to diffuse any potentially difficult situation with humour.
“That doesn’t make me less passionate about what I do but it probably means I have more fun.” Anton said his wife Hannah Summers and twins George and Henrietta, two, are now the centre of his universe. The couple needed IVF after they struggled to conceive, and Anton said “it was the best thing to happen in the history of the world”.
But having young kids means there’s drama at home as well as the dancefloor.
He said: “We’ve got a 50-inch telly in the playroom. I turned it on the other day and there was a big hole in the screen. Henrietta had hit it with a plastic golf club.”
Despite being dubbed “King of Ballroom” and appearing in all 16 series to date, Anton has yet to be on the winning side.
He has often been paired with the contest’s older, and sometimes less nimble, female stars including Ann Widdecombe, 72.
This series he is partnered with Eastenders actress Emma, 42, who has been criticised by the judges for not practising enough.
But Anton remains hopeful of tasting success, saying of the public “they’ve come to my rescue a number of times over the years”.
CLAUDIA Winkleman has a pact with Tess Daly that they will quit Strictly together.
The inseparable pair have fronted the show since 2014 after Bruce Forsyth got sick.
Claudia said: “I think Tess and I will leave at the same time, we have made that pact over pizza.”
Claudia, 47, moved from
Strictly spinoff It Takes Two to present the main show withtess, 50.
She said forming the all female prime-time duo was a dream come true, and she had pinch-me moments.
She added: “I’ve exceeded what I was supposed to do. Imposter syndrome, I have it in capital letters.”
CATTY judge Craig Revel Horwood yesterday said Motsi Mabuse is “more bouncy” than predecessor Darcey Bussell.
He believes the show is more fun with Motsi on the judging panel.
He said: “I loved
Darcey and she did a stellar job, but Motsi does bring a certain energy and it’s good to shake things up. She changes the dynamic. She’s more bouncy.
“She’s a Latin babe not a ballet babe.
But he told a newspaper: “The only thing I have a problem with is her nails. They’re like talons. She’s nearly scratched my
eye out.”
Bouncing around like Tigger after a fistful of smarties, Karen and Chris’s salsa was more hip hop or street than pure salsa for me and I always find the backing dancers hugely distracting.
Not too sure about all the jumping up and down but no one can doubt his energy or soaring confidence and he opened the show in style. Score: 33.
King of Ballroom Anton has finally gone and done it! Two tens for a classic
American smooth that was graceful, stylish and pure glam.
Emma’s rictus grin was slightly distracting, but this pair have finally hit the mark and found their dance. Score: 37.
We were transported back to the golden age of jazz for this fast and fun dance that was a perfect routine for the beautiful backdrop of the Tower Ballroom. A complicated and clever high-speed quickstep from Saffron and AJ, although again I was slightly distracted by the other dancers in the routine.
Hunky Kelvin had Shirley and Motsi on their feet as he showed off his super-fit physique with those press-ups!
He showed the strength and stamina of a professional dancer with this energetic jive to
Jailhouse Rock with partner
Oti. He was the
Elvis of the Dales!
Surely a place in the final after this is guaranteed.