‘Cut me and I bleed GLITTER!'

With his fourth novel being published and a seat on the judging panel, Strictly Come Dancing favourite Anton Du Beke is counting his lucky starsinterview

- KATHERINE HASSELL.

Anton Du Beke may never have lifted the Glitterball Trophy, but he’s arguably the biggest winner of Strictly Come Dancing. Yes, his luck with partners is patchy when it comes to dance proficiency – for every Emma Barton, there’s an Ann Widdecombe. But the charming and witty dancer always gets a 10 for likeability. And Strictly has led to so much.

‘I’ve had wonderful opportunities,’ enthuses the 55-year-old. ‘Like going on tour with Erin [Boag] or Giovanni [Pernice]. I’ve had an album out, I’ve been able to write novels, I did a duet with Gary Barlow. All that has been incredible. If you’re a lifelong entertainer like I am – cut me and I bleed glitter – this stuff is heaven-sent.’

More importantly, because of Strictly, Anton met wife Hannah and welcomed twins George and Henrietta, who are four. ‘We met at a charity golf day I was only at because I was a face off the telly,’ he says. ‘I wouldn’t have been invited if it wasn’t for Strictly. It’s that sliding doors moment. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.’

Anton’s historical romance novels – centred on Raymond de Guise, a demonstration dancer at the Buckingham Hotel in 1930s London – have proved a big hit too. We’ll Meet Again, fourth in the series of stand-alone stories dubbed ‘Downton with dance’, is published on Remembrance Day and set on the eve of World War Two.