Anton du Beke

Anthony Paul Beke (born 20 July 1966), known professionally as Anton du Beke, is a British ballroom dancer 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. 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.

His professional dance partner since 1997 has been Erin Boag.

Family and early life

Du Beke was born in Sevenoaks, Kent to a Hungarian father, Antal Xavier Beke (1939-2001), and a Spanish mother, Ascensión Lema.^[1] He has two younger siblings. He attended Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks.

Du Beke began dancing at 14, when he discovered his local dance school, the Holton School of Dancing in Sevenoaks. The school was run by Beryl Holton together with her mother Velda and later with her husband Stephen Turner. He took his first dancing exam in June 1981 and 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.^[2]

Du Beke lives in Buckinghamshire with girlfriend Hannah Summers. In November 2016 the couple announced they were expecting twins, due in Spring 2017.^[3]

Career

Strictly Come Dancing

He has appeared in all thirteen series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. In more recent years, a running joke has been that Du Beke is always partnered with the poorer dancers, who often score very low marks. 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 had 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.

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 The People's Strictly a one off version of the show where non-celebrities compete for 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" (played by Julie Walters). Beaumont quit the show when unable to master Du Beke's warm up steps.

During the week of 5 to 9 May 2014, Du Beke appeared on Channel 4 game show Draw It!.^[4]

In 2011 Du Beke won the Rear of the Year award.

Strictly Come Dancing performances

Series 1 - with celebrity partner Lesley Garrett; placed 3rd

Series 2 - with celebrity partner Esther Rantzen; 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

Books

Du Beke has released a book called Anton's Dance Class (published by Kyle Cathie, London, 2007), which has been serialised in the Mail on Sunday.^[5]

Du Beke's A-Z on Ballroom Dancing, B is for Ballroom, (published by Constable, London, 2012) is also now available.^[6]

Philanthrophy

Du Beke is an honorary patron of The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.^[7]

References

External links

• "Anton du Beke". Official website. 
• "Anton du Beke and Erin Boag". Official website of the partnership. 
• Anton du Beke at the Internet Movie Database
• "Up Close with Ballroom's Arch Seducer". The Daily Telegraph. London. 21 December 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2010. 
• Gordon, Jane (19 October 2007). "Anton du Beke Dances with Cherie and Tony Blair". Daily Mail. London.