Lorraine: Anton shares ‘exciting’ Strictly series update
Anton Du Beke has been voted the second best Strictly Come Dancing judge of all time in a new survey.
The professional dancer, 57, officially went from the Strictly dance floor to the judging panel back in 2021 after being a part of the BBC show since the beginning.
His efforts on the panel swiftly became praised by viewers and he went on to win the National Television Award for Most Popular Talent Show Judge the following year.
Despite this, a new survey by Betfair has revealed the late Len Goodman as viewers’ favourite judge of all time.
The dancer was the head judge on the panel from 2004 to 2016, before being replaced by current judge Shirley Ballas.
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At first, Len gave his critique on the show alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli.
Once Arlene left, Alesha Dixon stepped into her shoes, and following her departure, Darcey Bussell joined the panel.
The veteran judge sadly died back in April following a battle with bone cancer.
Following his death, Anton revealed how Len was the only person he went to for advice about becoming a judge on the show.
Speaking to Kate Garraway on Life Stories, he got emotional as he said of the late dancer: “Well they [the BBC] asked me to judge and I spoke to Len about it, I didn’t speak to anyone else, I only spoke to Len.”
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He added: “I feel like Len and I shared the journey of Strictly Come Dancing together because I’ve known Len for 45 years and he had this great dance school in Dartford and I’m from Sevenoaks and I knew all about it.”
Of Len’s advice, Anton recalled: “He said to me, ‘Be yourself and say what you see’.
“That’s it. I didn’t try to be Len, I didn’t try to be some great judge.”
Sharing memories of Len on The One Show, the dancer also said: “I have known him for 40 years as a man, as a boy. I remember him judging me as a young boy.
“I would value his comments above everyone else because he knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was lucky to have known him for 40 years. He was a great friend. We would spend hours chatting and laughing. He was a joy to be with.
“That was the thing about Len, he was a joy to be with and he gave off so much joy.”
Anton went on to say he was “lucky enough to know him” and to “call him a friend”.
At the launch show to kick off the latest Strictly series last Saturday, the programme paid a special tribute to the former judge, five months on from his death.
In the video, he was described as a “true gentleman” by host Tess Daly, while her co-star Claudia Winkleman said he “could light up a room so when you were with Len, you felt a glow”.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One this Saturday at 6.35pm.
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