Anton Du Beke Addresses Strictly Scandal with Four-Word Response

Anton Du Beke, Strictly Come Dancing judge and professional dancer, brushed aside recent controversies surrounding the BBC show during his appearance on ITV’s Loose Women on Thursday, September 5. The 58-year-old addressed the panel, which included Kaye Adams, Frankie Bridge, GK Barry, and Nadia Sawalha, confidently stating that the upcoming 20th-anniversary series “will feel magnificent.”

When Kaye Adams brought up whether the show would feel “different” this year in light of allegations made by actress Amanda Abbington against her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, Anton quickly interjected. Kaye pressed further: “We can’t ignore the fact that it’s had its troubles this year, so is it going to feel different?”

Anton, a fixture on the show since its 2004 inception, dismissed the notion, reassuring viewers: “No, no, it will feel magnificent, and it won’t feel different at all. It’s going to be brilliant. We have a whole new cast”, reports Wales Online.

Reflecting on the excitement of Strictly’s launch, Anton reminisced about the joy of meeting one’s dance partner for the first time, the costume fittings, and the anticipation of the first show. “Then you go off, that’s it—you don’t see anything else because you’re just focusing on the first show, and the nerves build up, but it’s so exciting.”

Anton’s remarks come amidst the BBC show facing allegations of abuse from former contestants like Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott against some of the professional dancers. In response, the show’s producers have introduced new safeguarding measures ahead of the 20th series, which is set to begin soon.

These measures include a newly appointed production team, which will be present at rehearsals to monitor for any signs of inappropriate behavior. Despite the challenges, Anton remains confident that the beloved dance competition will continue to captivate audiences.