Anton Du Beke

Biography

Anton Du Beke is a professional ballroom dancer, television personality and presenter. He became a household name as a professional on every series of Strictly Come Dancing, from the first to the eighteenth, before moving to the judge's chair, and he’s now just as popular away from the dancefloor.

At 14, Anton gave up boxing and football to take up dancing. At 16, he left school to focus on ballroom, working day jobs to fund his passion. He won numerous amateur competitions before turning professional with his long-term dance partner Erin Boag. The pair were selected to join the new BBC One series Strictly Come Dancing, little realising it would become both a national and global phenomenon. With elegance, warmth and humour, Anton partnered contestants including Lesley Garrett, Esther Rantzen, Ann Widdecombe, Judy Murray, and Jacqui Smith before replacing Bruno Tonioli as a judge on the show.

Beyond Strictly, Anton is an accomplished presenter, author and live performer. He has been a guest presenter on This Morning (including displaying his baking skills from his time as a professional baker) and a guest on shows from Countdown to Pointless Celebrities, Loose Women to The Weakest Link and Celebrity Gogglebox. He’s hosted the Saturday night gameshow Hole In The Wall, recorded an album, From the Top, and is the author of The Buckingham Hotel series of novels set in the war-time era.