Tonbridge-born ballroom dancer Anton Du Beke – on Pointless Celebrities this weekend (July 12) – will rejoice his 59th birthday in July.
This 12 months additionally marks 21 years since he grew to become a decide on the BBC One present Strictly Come Dancing.
He and his spouse Hannah had twins in 2017, after a gruelling IVF journey.
Anton was beforehand in a relationship with a lady referred to as Vanessa, who, he stated, dumped him after which began relationship one in all his mates. Ouch…
However maybe his most heartbreaking expertise – his phrases, not ours – was when Liverpool FC misplaced within the FA Cup when he was just a bit boy.
Dancer and presenter Anton Du Beke on ‘worst childhood reminiscence’
Many moons in the past, when Anton Du Beke was a younger boy, he used to play soccer on a regular basis.
He supported Liverpool and, one 12 months, they made the FA Cup closing. Since there “wasn’t a lot else going on”, Anton stated, he had loads of time and vitality to dedicate to fandom. However that 12 months, to his chagrin, Liverpool misplaced to Manchester United. And he cried.
“I’d by no means cried earlier than over soccer,” Anton revealed, whereas recounting his worst childhood reminiscences throughout an interview with the Telegraph. “That was heartbreaking.”
In a separate incident, he remembers going to the sector in the future to participate in a contest and discovering it unplayable.
“I bear in mind going to this soccer factor, a contest or one thing to play, and the bottom was frozen and we couldn’t. I’ve to let you know, I was devastated,” he stated.
It could have been the simplest reply to provide within the second. However Liverpool shedding to Man Metropolis was definitely one of many higher ‘worst’ experiences of his childhood, which was plagued by abuse.
Strictly decide was stabbed by his father as a toddler
Anton beforehand spoke about his dad’s dependence on alcohol. He additionally revealed the toll it took on him and his household. And, as soon as, it took a flip for the more severe.
Throughout an interview with Kate Garraway on the present Life Tales in 2023, he revealed that he spent three days in hospital after his dad injured him with a knife.
“I bought stabbed. I’ve by no means stated this out loud earlier than,” he stated, his voice faltering. He recalled “the alcoholism and the violence”, and stated it was directed in the direction of him “as a result of I was a boy”.
“You’ve bought an alcoholic father and a scenario the place when you’re in the home [he’s] consuming. Then you find yourself with the fights and stuff. You’d transfer rooms to get away from all of it. After which he follows you in and the subsequent factor you realize the violence begins. Then it got here to a head one night.”
It was Boxing Day when he sustained the accidents to his leg and abdomen.
“I bear in mind strolling out of the home to stroll as much as the hospital holding my leg and a police automotive drove previous and I waved them down and I stated: ‘He’s in there with a knife.’ Anyway, they carted him off. My solely concern was getting again into the studio and dancing and the embarrassment of it.”
Antal Beke’s loss of life
Anton advised his buddies that he had pulled a hamstring in an effort to clarify the harm. His dad was cleared in court docket of wounding his son, and Anton selected to not go to his funeral. Antal Beke died in 2001.
“Every little thing was about transferring forwards. I felt sorry for my mum – this was her husband, she’s working two jobs and he selected to drink and be violent. It’s simply life and also you carry on,” he stated.
Catch Anton on Pointless Celebrities immediately (July 12) at 7.20pm on BBC One.
Learn extra: Anton Du Beke claims Sir Bruce Forsyth would be ‘furious’ over his final resting place
So, what do you think of this story? You can leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and tell us.
