Dancing with the Stars

EXCLUSIVE Strictly judge Anton Du Beke says a big name is ready to leave the hit BBC One Dance show saying, ‘It’s getting a bit much.’

Anton Du Beke has shocked Strictly Come Dancing fans by revealing a big name star is looking to waltz away from the BBC series for good.

The former pro dancer who is now an established judge on the series, revealed that one famous face on the show has already spoken to him about potentially leaving at the end of the 2026 series. His comments, as he promoted his new memoir Steps In Time, are sure to start a guessing game amongst fans.

Speaking on stage in Bath, Anton, 60, said: “I spoke to somebody the other day and they were like ‘It’s getting a bit much’.

“It’s somebody who’s been on it not that long, a little while, and I understood that. I thought about it for a while and I wondered if they will be on it or whether they will decide to step away or carry on.”

The comments could refer to a number of the new pro dancers or the new show hosts, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, who only joined this year.

There have also been reports than judge Shirley Ballas may consider walking away from the UK version of the show if she landed a full time role on US series Dancing With The Stars. She was recently a guest judge on the series but insisted in an interview last month she was “100 percent not leaving Strictly”.

Anton is not seemingly referring fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood, as the pair still love being on the show and are veterans having been on the series since it began in 2004. On his love for Strictly, Anton said: “I was there from Day One. Craig and I, we are the only ones left. I am so proud of that. It is one of my greatest things.

“I am so proud to have been on the show since the beginning and still loving it as well. I love it as much now as I always have. It is the most brilliant show. I love being a judge. I loved being a professional.

Referring to the late great former host Bruce Forsyth, he added: “I loved working with Brucie. He was my hero growing up. Brucie would come out and do his own warm up and I used to stand in the wings and watch him before the show began. I watched him every week for about 15 years. He was a genius.”

Anton was speaking at the Bath Forum to promote his book Steps In Time, his first memoir. The book, which is released tomorrow, is described by publishers as a “coming-of-age story” which reflects on Anton’s youth, and his rise as a pro dancer before then joining Strictly and becoming a TV star.

He left school as a teenager with no qualifications and took on a variety of jobs to pay for dance classes. after competing as a pro he then hit the bigtime when he landed a spot on Strictly. Once there he danced with celebrities including Kate Garraway, Ruth Langsford, Jerry Hall, Judy Murray and the late Ann Widdecombe.

* Steps In Time by Anton Du Beke is out on November 5 from Blink Publishing.

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Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas looks set to fly the nest and follow the likes of Bruno Tonioli to the stateside version of the show, Dancing With The Stars

Shirley Ballas is getting ready to quickstep her way stateside with a new role on Dancing With The Stars, according to reports. The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 66, is said to be ready to follow the likes of Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman to switch to the US version of the dance show.

It’s claimed she won’t give up her role on the BBC’s prime Saturday show, though. Instead, insiders claim she will fit filming in between the live Strictly shows.

“Shirley will fly to the US later this month after the Strictly live show finishes,” the source said. They added that, as DWTS is filmed throughout the week, she will then return in time for the live weekend shows.

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“It’s a whirlwind schedule, but she jumped at the chance to take part,” the source told The Sun. They went on to claim that, while it’s just a one-off for now, it could progress. They said: “If the US TV bosses think Shirley is a hit, they’re sure to see if she would come back.”

Shirley initially joined Strictly as head judge in 2017. But fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood recently joked she will never be able to fill the boots of late legend Len Goodman, who died in 2023 at the age of 78.

‘For me, he was Strictly Come Dancing, Craig said at the unveiling of a tribute sculpture to the legendary judge at the Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford in July. “His sayings… ‘A ten from Len’ was a huge one. Shirley has tried to replicate that one, but sadly, she failed.”

He also paid tribute to his genuine off-screen friendship with Len, saying viewers only ever saw one side of their famously fiery relationship. He went on: “I loved Len. If you looked at the TV, we were constantly fighting like cat and dog, but as soon as we came off stage, we’d have a pally drink together.

“‘We toured together. So I was stuck in a car with Len for hours and hours while he got out to look at another building, darling.”

The judge also revealed how Len helped him overcome his biggest fear when he first joined Strictly. ‘I am now the age Len was when he started Strictly.

“There was a twenty-year difference between us. I’ll let you into a little secret – when I started, I was having nightmares because I didn’t know ballroom and Latin.”

Len, who also appeared on DWTS, was given a huge tribute on the show following his death. The show announced in 2023 that they were officially renaming the famous mirrorball trophy to the Len Goodman Trophy.

Julianne Hough said at the time: “Len was on this panel for nearly all of our 32 seasons and although he’s irreplaceable we wanted to pay tribute to him… Len will always be going forward with us.”

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