Anton Du Beke has shared some Strictly secrets and why he is "happy" not to participate in the group dances after more than 18 years on the show.
The TV star, 55, who stood in for judge Bruno Tolioni for the 2021 series, claimed as the years went by he got pushed further and further back on stage, with the hunkier "tattooed" pros placed in front.
Anton said the male dancers would show off their muscular physiques in tight vests, while he ended "so far back I was chatting to the orchestra".
Speaking on Thursday evening in Dunstable, on his An Audience With... tour, Anton, who has been on the show since it began in 2004, said that back in the day he would at the front, which he described as nice.
He went on: "We had things called things called grids where people were in position on the floor and then suddenly you would go back another line.
"Then they started putting you in the corners and then the tattoos started arriving and everyone with tattoos was down the front wearing a vest.
"It got to the point where I was back here. I was so far back at the end I was chatting with Lance in the orchestra. I did not mind not doing the group dances in the end."
Anton also made a joke about getting his routine tattooed on his chest, if he danced with someone again.
Earlier this week Anton appeared to confirm that he will be returning as a judge on Strictly.
The star was chatting to Charlene White on ITV news when he seemingly referred to his future on the panel.
During the chat, Charlene said to him: "What made me laugh this morning, I was listening to Giovanni Pernice's interview on Radio 2 because he was talking about the tour that you guys are gonna be doing very soon and he said that you're a bit like a grandfather, and I was thinking, 'but he's not old enough to be a grandfather!'"
Laughing at the comment, Anton replied: "He's so rude! That is the last time I give him good marks, I can tell you. It's a four from me in the future."
He then quickly added: "All being well," as he hinted at the idea of him being asked back as a judge.
Anton stood in for judge Bruno Tolioni as he was stuck in the US due to Covid travel rules.
According to reports, insiders have since claimed the 66-year-old Italian has been axed from the BBC series for good - which could lead the way for Anton to become a permanent judge.
Anton's name was noticeably absent from the list of confirmed professionals who will be taking part in the 2022 series this autumn.
But Anton insisted to Great British Life at the beginning of April that he genuinely doesn't know if he will be on the panel again.
"The absolute truth is that I don’t know. I haven’t been told. They literally haven’t spoken to me about it," he said.
