Anton du Beke


Anthony Paul Beke, known professionally as Anton du Beke, is a British ballroom and Latin dancer, singer, comedian, author and television presenter, best known as a professional dancer on the BBC One celebrity dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing, since the show began in 2004. His professional dance partner since 1997 has been Erin Boag. Du Beke is also an anchor on ITV This Morning with John Barrowman, Rochelle Humes or Ben Shephard.
In 2009, he presented the UK version of Hole in the Wall, for the BBC, replacing Dale Winton after being a team captain in 2008.
In November 2017, du Beke released his debut studio album, From the Top, on Polydor Records. It reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart.

Family and early life

Du Beke was born in Sevenoaks, Kent to a Hungarian father, Antal Xavier Beke, and a Spanish mother, Ascensión "Conchita" Lema. He has two younger siblings. He attended Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks.
Du Beke began dancing at 10, when he discovered his local dance school, the Holton School of Dancing in Sevenoaks, and took his first dancing exam in June 1978. The school was run by Beryl Holton together with her mother Velda and later with her husband Stephen Turner. He started competitive dancing a few years later. He had three partners during these formative years before the Holton School of Dancing closed in 1987 when Beryl and Stephen Turner moved with his banking career to Dorset. Du Beke left school at 16 to follow an amateur dancing career. At 17 he decided to specialise in ballroom. Whilst he danced during the evenings and at weekends he had a day job as a salesman in "The Bed Post" in Petts Wood, South London where he was known as Tony Beke.
He dated television presenter Caroline Feraday from 2007 to 2008.
Du Beke lives in Buckinghamshire with wife Hannah Summers. In November 2016 the couple announced they were expecting twins, due in spring 2017. On 30 March 2017, his son George and daughter Henrietta were born, announced with an Instagram post.

Career

''Strictly Come Dancing''

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance
DancePartnerHighestPartnerLowest
American SmoothEmma Barton37Ann Widdecombe14
Cha Cha ChaEmma Barton31Judy Murray17
CharlestonEmma Barton39Ann Widdecombe17
Couple's ChoiceEmma Barton33
FoxtrotKatie Derham35Susannah Constantine12
Argentine tangoKatie Derham32__
JiveLesley Garrett29Jan Ravens18
Paso DobleLaila Rouass
Lesley Garrett		30Ann Widdecombe16
QuickstepLesley Garrett33Kate Garraway15
RumbaKatie Derham31Ann Widdecombe
Nancy Dell'Olio		14
SalsaEmma Barton27Ann Widdecombe12
SambaLaila Rouass28Susannah Constantine12
TangoPatsy Palmer34Esther Rantzen16
Viennese WaltzEmma Barton39Judy Murray24
WaltzEmma Barton36Nancy Dell'Olio12
ShowdanceEmma Barton38Katie Derham31

He has appeared in all series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. In the first series, he danced with singer Lesley Garrett and finished in third place. For the second series, he partnered presenter Esther Rantzen; they were eliminated in the third week. He danced with actress Patsy Palmer for the third series and finished in fifth place. In the fourth series, he danced with actress and impressionist Jan Ravens but was eliminated in week 5 of the competition. His partner for the fifth series was TV presenter Kate Garraway; the couple was voted out in week 7. His partner for the sixth series was actress Gillian Taylforth; the couple was voted out in week 2. In series seven, he was partnered with Laila Rouass. Together, they made it to week 12.
In series 8, he partnered Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe and made it through to week 10. For its ninth series, Nancy Dell'Olio was Anton's partner, the couple were eliminated in week 5. His partner for the tenth series was model and actress Jerry Hall. They were eliminated in week 3. His partner for series 11 was actress Fiona Fullerton. They were eliminated in week 8 in Blackpool. For the show's twelfth series, his partner was tennis coach Judy Murray. They were also eliminated on week 8 in Blackpool. For series 13, Du Beke was partnered with newscaster and presenter Katie Derham they made it to Du Beke's first final in all 13 series and were eliminated in fourth place. In series 14, Du Beke was partnered with actress, Lesley Joseph. They were eliminated in week 5. In series 15 in 2017, Du Beke was paired with television presenter Ruth Langsford. In 2018 Anton was partnered with Fashion Journalist Susannah Constantine. They finished last with an average of 12.00. For the 17th series, he was partnered with Emma Barton. In Week 9, du Beke received his first 10s in all 17 series for their American Smooth; the couple received a total of fifteen 10s during the series. They finished joint runners-up alongside Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden, but lost out to Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse.
Du Beke has also appeared on a number of Children in Need and Christmas Special's of Strictly Come Dancing. In 2008 he won the Children in Need 2008, special dancing an American Smooth with Tess Daly. He danced once again with Anne Widdecombe in the 2012 Children in Need special but lost out to Russell Grant and Flavia Cacace. He did however go on to win the Children in Need 2014 special where he and fellow dancer Natalie Lowe taught a group of children how to dance. Du Beke has also reprised his partnership with Lesley Garret for the 2004 Christmas special. He has also danced with Ronni Ancona, Su Pollard, Katy Brand and Denise Lewis in the respective 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016 Christmas specials. In 2015 Du Beke served as a judge on The People's Strictly, a one off version of the show where non-celebrities compete for the charity Comic Relief.

Other television appearances

In March 2007 Du Beke was a contestant on the BBC Two series The Underdog Show and was paired with homeless dog Ginger, they were eliminated in week three of the competition.
Du Beke has presented the BBC cookery show Step Up to the Plate. He served as a captain and from series 2 the host on the UK version of Hole in the Wall, which premiered on 20 September 2008 on BBC One. On 24 December 2009, he appeared in Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas, in a sketch called "Beyond The Marigolds", where he spoofed his Strictly Come Dancing role by being paired with fictional soap star "Bo Beaumont". Beaumont quit the show when unable to master Du Beke's warm up steps.
In 2011 Du Beke won the Rear of the Year award.
During the week of 5 to 9 May 2014, Du Beke appeared on Channel 4 game show Draw It!.
On Christmas Day 2019, Du Beke surprised Craig Revel Horwood as a guest in the Christmas Midnight Gameshow in Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show.

''Strictly Come Dancing'' performances

SeriesPartnerPlaceAverage
Score
1Lesley Garrett3rd29.3
2Esther Rantzen8th18.7
3Patsy Palmer5th27.7
4Jan Ravens9th22.8
5Kate Garraway8th19.2
6Gillian Taylforth15th22.0
7Laila Rouass4th27.8
8Ann Widdecombe6th16.2
9Nancy Dell'Olio11th15.6
10Jerry Hall13th18.0
11Fiona Fullerton9th26.1
12Judy Murray9th20.0
13Katie Derham4th28.4
14Lesley Joseph11th26.2
15Ruth Langsford9th19.7
16Susannah Constantine15th12.0
17Emma Barton2nd31.6

Series 1 – with celebrity partner Lesley Garrett, Du Beke was placed 3rd.
Series 2 – with celebrity partner Esther Rantzen, Du Beke was placed 8th.
Series 3 – with celebrity partner Patsy Palmer; placed 5th
Series 4 – with celebrity partner Jan Ravens; placed 9th
Series 5 – with celebrity partner Kate Garraway; placed 8th
Series 6 – with celebrity partner Gillian Taylforth; placed 15th
Series 7 – with celebrity partner Laila Rouass; placed 4th
1 Rouass and du Beke only performed half of their routine, due to an injury.
2 Scores from guest judge Darcey Bussell.
Series 8 – with celebrity partner Ann Widdecombe; placed 6th
Series 9 – with celebrity partner Nancy Dell'Olio; placed 11th
Series 10 – with celebrity partner Jerry Hall; placed 13th
Series 11 – with celebrity partner Fiona Fullerton; placed 9th
Series 12 – with celebrity partner Judy Murray; placed 9th
3 Score from guest judge Donny Osmond.
Series 13 – with celebrity partner Katie Derham; placed 4th
Series 14 – with celebrity partner Lesley Joseph; placed 11th
Series 15 – with celebrity partner Ruth Langsford; placed 9th
4Tonioli was absent due to working on Dancing with the Stars
Series 16 – with celebrity partner Susannah Constantine; placed 15th
Series 17 – with celebrity partner Emma Barton
In week 9, at Blackpool, dancing an American Smooth, du Beke scored his first ever 10s.
5Score awarded by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro

Discography

Du Beke has released a book called Anton's Dance Class which was serialised in the Mail on Sunday. Du Beke also wrote A-Z on Ballroom Dancing, B is for Ballroom.
In October 2018, Du Beke released his debut novel 'One Enchanted Evening'.

Dance tours

In August 2018, Anton & Erin Boag announced a 3-month 2019 UK Tour "DANCE THOSE MAGICAL MUSICALS".
In September 2018, Anton & Erin Boag announced they were to appear at "Dancing With The Stars Weekends".

Philanthropy

Du Beke is an honorary patron of The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.