Anton Du Beke
Anton du Beke | |
|---|---|
 Anton du Beke and Erin Boag at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham (photo January 2008) | |
| Born | 20 July 1966 |
| Occupation(s) | Professional ballroom dancer television presenter |
| Known for | Strictly Come Dancing, Hole in the Wall |
Anton du Beke (born Anthony Beke on 20 July 1966) is a professional ballroom dancer and television presenter. His dance partner since 1997 has been Erin Boag. With Boag, he won the IDTA Classic in England in November 2003.
Family and early life
Du Beke's Hungarian father, Antal Xavier Beke (1939-2001),[1] was an alcoholic. His Spanish mother, Ascension, remarried. He has two siblings.[2]
He began dancing at 14, when he discovered his local dance hall. He had gone to collect his sister, Veronica from her dance class and reportedly was encouraged to join, there being only one other boy in the class. At this time in his life, du Beke was also a junior boxer.
He left school at 16 to follow an amateur dancing career. At 17 he decided to specialise in ballroom. Whilst he danced during the evenings and at weekends he had a day job as a salesman in "The Bed Post" in Petts Wood, South East London.
Strictly Come Dancing
He has appeared in all six series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. In the first series, he danced with singer Lesley Garrett and finished in third place. For the second series, he partnered presenter Esther Rantzen; they were eliminated in the third week. He danced with actress Patsy Palmer for the third series and finished in fifth place. In the fourth series, he danced with actress and impressionist Jan Ravens but was eliminated in week 5 of the competition. His partner for the fifth series was TV presenter Kate Garraway; the couple was voted out in week 7. His partner for the sixth series was actress Gillian Taylforth; the couple was voted out in week 2 (the first week of dancing for the female celebrities).
On 14 November 2008 for Children in Need 2008, he took part in a Strictly Come Dancing special. His dance partner was Tess Daly. They won the Golden Pudsey award, beating Terry Wogan and his dance partner Flavia Cacace. Anton, overcome with excitement at winning, yelled, "SIX YEARS!" (the amount of time he has been on Strictly without winning the show) on learning he and Tess had won.
For the seventh series, du Beke is partnered with actress Laila Rouass.
Laila Rouass controversy
According to the News of the World on 20th September, 2009[3], who quoted an 'insider', it is alleged that when first introduced to his 2009 series partner Laila Rouass, who is of dual Indian and Moroccan heritage[4], Du Beke said, 'You're not a terrorist, are you?' on learning of Rouass' background. This article was sourced by the Daily Mail on 8th October, with no named witnesses, when reporting some opinions from its online forum, MailOnline.[5]. The actuality of the comment being made has never been confirmed or acknowledged by the couple themselves.
Two weeks later, the News of the World, again used an unnamed 'witness' and a source 'who asked not to be named.' to state that after the application of fake tan for the show, du Beke told Rouass, 'Oh my God, you look like a Paki'[6][7] in an exchange allegedly witnessed by 15 people, none of whom have come forward publicly[8]. The ´witness´ construed that Rouass took offence - apparently, 'she 'glared' at du Beke and walked out'[9]. Du Beke offered an unreserved apology, which Rouass accepted[10]. On BBC 2's It Takes Two, du Beke and Rouass appeared together and spoke about the incident. Rouass told the same show that she wanted to "move on" from the row. When asked about du Beke she said "Apart from the dancing he's taught me how to be gracious and how to laugh at silly things and we've just had such a great time and I want it to carry on - it's just such a shame that this is happened and we want to move on." [11]
Bruce Forsyth has attracted some controversy too with his comments on the matter, ultimately stating "To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable. However, there is a major difference between this and racist comments which are malicious in intent and whilst I accept that we live in a world of extraordinary political correctness, we should keep things in perspective." The BBC followed up with a statement "Racially offensive language in the workplace is entirely unacceptable," it said. "Anton was right to apologise quickly and without reservation and Laila has wholly accepted his apology. Everyone is very clear that there can be no repetition of this behaviour."[12].
The issue has been widely debated in the press, and on BBC's Question Time on 8th October 2009.
Other television appearances
In March 2007 du Beke was a contestant on the BBC Two series The Underdog Show and was paired with homeless dog Ginger, they were eliminated in week three of the competition.
He is the presenter of the BBC cookery show Step Up to the Plate. He has also appeared as a guest on The Wright Stuff. Du Beke serves as a captain and from series 2 the host on the UK version of Hole in the Wall which premiered on 20 September 2008 on BBC One.
He also appeared on two episodes of The Weakest Link: one with his Strictly celebrity partner from series 1, Lesley Garrett, on a 2005 celebrity duos special, where they were voted off in round 5; and by himself on a 2008 Strictly special, where he lost out to Mark Foster in the final round.
Books
Du Beke has released a book called Anton's Dance Class, which has been serialised in the Mail on Sunday.[13]
Strictly Come Dancing performance record
| Celebrity partner | Week | Dance | Judges' scores | ||||
| Craig Revel Horwood | Len Goodman | Alesha Dixon | Bruno Tonioli | Total | |||
| Laila Rouass | 1 | Tango | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 |
| Laila Rouass | 1 | Cha Cha Cha | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 25 |
| Laila Rouass | 2 | Quickstep | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 30 |
References
- ^ Deaths England and Wales 1984-2006
- ^ Strictly good friends: Anton Du Beke reveals what REALLY went on with Kate Garraway
- ^ http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/strictly_come_dancing/512208/Anton-Du-Beke-called-mixed-race-dance-parter-Leila-Rouass-a-terrorist.html
- ^ http://www.popsugar.co.uk/5444436
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1218711/Strictly-Come-Dancing-Laila-Rouass-stands-Anton-Du-Beke-amid-calls-sacking-racist-slur.html
- ^ http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Paki
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/6262885/Strictly-Come-Dancing-race-row-BBC-fields-complaints-and-calls-to-sack-Anton-Du-Beke.html
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1218711/Strictly-Come-Dancing-Laila-Rouass-stands-Anton-Du-Beke-amid-calls-sacking-racist-slur.html
- ^ http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/strictly_come_dancing/533578/laila-rouass.html
- ^ http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/strictly_come_dancing/533578/laila-rouass.html
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8300265.stm
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/09/strictly-come-dancing-bruce-forsyth
- ^ "Anton's Book".
External links
- "Up Close with Ballroom's Arch Seducer".
- "Anton du Beke Dances with Cherie and Tony Blair".
- "Anton du Beke". Official website.
- "Anton du Beke and Erin Boag". Official website of the partnership.
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