‘I never want to LEAVE STRICTLY!'

Anton Du Beke opens up about his life on and off the dance floor

- JANE ODDY

He brings his own special brand of fun and magic to the dance floor in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing – and the fans’ favourite Anton Du Beke, who has been in the original line-up of the show’s professional dancers since the series started in 2004 – will be back when the series returns later this year.

Anton says, ‘I have such a wonderful feeling of pride that I’ve been on Strictly since the beginning with Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Tess Daly.

‘I still have such a great enthusiasm for it. I absolutely love Strictly. For me, every year is a new show, a new partner and a new experience. I never want to leave.’

Often playing it for laughs with comedic pairings, Anton was in touching distance of the glitterball trophy last year when he reached the final with his partner, EastEnders actress Emma Barton.

‘It was a draw, I heard. That’s what I tell people,’ he teases. ‘Emma and I had such a lovely time. She made my job really easy.’