Let’s rewind to 2004, when Anton first stepped onto the dance floor with Lesley Joseph. She was 58, he was 38, and the producers clearly thought, “Let’s give the new pro the actress who’s getting on a bit.” Spoiler: they were voted off first. But did Anton sulk? No. He grinned, took the loss, and started a pattern that would define his next decade: “I’ll make you look good, even if we’re bottom of the leaderboard.”
Then came Esther Rantzen in 2011. Oh, Esther. She was 71, and her paso doble looked less like a bullfight and more like a determined pigeon trying to navigate a roundabout. Anton’s commentary? “She has the heart of a lion and the hips of a very confused octopus.” You can’t make this stuff up. They lasted four weeks, but those four weeks were pure gold—awkward, endearing, and somehow celebrating the fact that dance doesn’t have to be perfect to be fun.
The “Fan Favorites” Who Defied All Odds
Fast-forward to 2015, and Anton got Katie Derham. Now, Katie was a news presenter—elegant, composed, but about as flexible as a plank of oak. Yet, under Anton’s guidance, they made it all the way to the semi-finals. I remember watching their American Smooth and thinking, “Wait, is this the same guy who used to get voted off in week two?” It was a turning point. Anton suddenly went from “comedy fodder” to legitimate contender.
Then there was Emma Barton in 2019. Emma was a musical theater pro, so she could actually dance—which, for Anton, must have felt like winning the lottery after a decade of playing with Monopoly money. They finished as runners-up, and Anton’s face during the final was a mix of shock and pure, unguarded joy. “I finally got to do a proper tango!” he practically shouted. Mate, we were all rooting for you.
Anton Du Beke finally gets Strictly Come Dancing praise following jive
