Anton Du Beke has admitted to still getting "a bit of dance envy" when he watches the Strictly professional dancers perform their group numbers but says judging is 'easier on the knees'. The 56-year-old dancer was speaking ahead of the hit BBC show's return to our screens this Friday, where he'll be seen back on the judging panel alongside head judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse.
As the show celebrates its 20th series this year, Anton explained how he felt "honoured" to have been on the show since its launch back in 2004. He is one of the few Strictly stars to have joined at the beginning, initially as a professional dancer - with his first celebrity partner being Lesley Garrett.
He has now taken over the role of judge from Bruno Tonioli, who had to quit due to travel commitments for his role as a judge on Dancing With The Stars in the US. Anton said he was “delighted, elated, excited, proud, thrilled" to be returning as a judge for the 20th series.
However, he admitted he does miss being part of the professional dancer's numbers since becoming a judge. “I do watch some of the pros do the numbers and get a bit of dance envy," he said. "Thinking I wish I could have been a part of that. But judging is so much easier on the knees.”
Anton said his favourite thing about working on Strictly is the "joy" and how it has the power to "lift" viewers up. He explained: "The joy of the show, the joy it brings everybody, the joy it brings my family and the joy it brings me.
“I can’t believe, well I can really, that it has been going for so long and still we have a new audience coming to it every year, a new generation that are growing up with the show. There’s a wonderful feeling around the show. I love that feeling of lifting everybody up, which I think was highlighted through lockdown. The sun shines when Strictly is on.”
Strictly Come Dancing was due to return to screens on September 17 but the launch show was delayed to September 23 followed by the first live show on September 24. This was due to scheduling changes following the death of the Queen.
The celebrity line-up this year includes; TV presenter Helen Skelton, EastEnders actor James Bye, singer Fleur East, former England footballer Tony Adams, Ted Lasso actress Ellie Taylor, Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps actor Will Mellor, Loose Women star Kaye Adams and Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh.
They are joined by Bros singer Matt Goss, Kiss radio host Tyler West, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford, comedian and actress Jayde Adams, Wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin and BBC Radio 2’s Richie Anderson.
The Strictly Come Dancing launch show airs on Friday, September 23 at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The first of the live shows will then air on Saturday, September 24 from 6.45pm.
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