‘There's nothing like a standing ovation!'

As sure as death and taxes, Strictly’s longest-serving dancer, Anton Du Beke, is back with the show’s 18th series and, as ever, he’s bringing his A game

- CHLOE ALEXANDROU

With Covid upending all our lives, if ever there was a time for a little glitz and glamour, this is it. Fortunately, we were all given something to smile about when Strictly Come Dancing came waltzing back on to our screens. And with it came long-standing pro-Anton Du Beke, who’s been a staple on the show since it first aired in 2004. Strictly wouldn’t be the same without him.

We’re eager to find out how Anton’s been keeping himself busy over the last few months. He admits not being able to perform has been tough, but says the time out has allowed him to immerse himself in another creative arena – writing. A Christmas To Remember is his third novel and takes us back to 1938 for a charming festive tale.

When he wasn’t writing and staying in shape, Anton, 54, was looking after three-year-old twins George and Henrietta. Here, he talks about meaningful milestones, the joys of writing, and why he can’t wait to get stuck into Strictly…

Hi Anton. Can you give us a behind-the-scenes insight into this year's Strictly?

There are a few changes. The group dances won’t believe it anymore. In the run-up to the show, us pros usually get together to rehearse all the group dances you see throughout the series. Then, week by week, we refresh our memories of them and perform them live. This time, we’ve had to go into an isolated bubble with some of the production crew and get those all filmed in advance to limit our contact as much as possible.

We’re glad you’re back. Strictly is the kind of tonic we all need right now…