Strictly star Anton du Beke backs Len Goodman’s casting vote decisions

Strictly Come Dancing favourite Anton du Beke says shock exits are vital for the BBC’s biggest show.

Millions were stunned at some of the dance-off decisions last series, with head judge Len Goodman taking a pasting for his casting votes. But Anton insists the veteran was right to make his controversial calls.

“If it was all a bit willy-nilly and we just picked the ones we liked, the show wouldn’t work,” Anton told The Sunday Post.

“There has to be that criteria where the judges judge what they see at that moment, not what happened two weeks ago.

“They might be disappointed their personal favourite didn’t do as good a job as they’d have liked, but that’s the way it is.

“Otherwise, you’d have a situation where you could pick the finalists and winner from day one.

“Then you’d have 12 wasted weeks and no one will invest in it because it’s a foregone conclusion. We enjoy the shock when Pixie gets voted off or when Thom Evans goes in week four. That’s the nature of the show.”

The series, which saw Caroline Flack win, was hailed as the best ever. And Anton, 48, says he reckons he can put his finger on at least some of the secrets of the show’s sequin-clad success.

“What I really love about a series like we’ve just had is the way we find out more about the celebrities we get,” says Anton, who was paired with Judy Murray.

“We know Caroline is a television presenter or Frankie Bridge is with pop group The Saturdays or that Judy Murray is Andy’s mum. But we don’t really know anything more about them. Then we get to see them more personally.

“That’s what adds an extra level to the show and what makes it so much more enjoyable.

“Judy was a revelation. I don’t think anybody realised her sense of humour but she was hilarious and such a great sport.”

The last time The Sunday Post met up with Anton, it was at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom on the week the pair were voted out despite their charming routine to Let’s Go Fly A Kite.

Thankfully, Anton laughs off my concerns about having been a jinx and has no real beef with the judges’ verdict.

“It was her best number in the show and funnily enough I thought she could have gone through.

“But they’d been battering her week after week so it’d have been a bit ironic if they suddenly said: ‘Oh we actually quite like this, you can go through’.”

Having caught up with the duo behind the scenes at Blackpool, the chemistry was evident, a chemistry that has Anton agreeing that Judy was “probably right up there as my best ever partner”.

This was despite Judy frankly admitting she couldn’t really dance.

“I’d have loved to have gone further but if we’d stayed another week we’d have been doing the jive and she said she didn’t think anybody needed to see that,” laughs Anton.

Judy and Anton are reunited this month for the Scottish dates of Anton’s tour with pro partner Erin Boag.

“We’re doing our waltz to Mull of Kintyre. It’ll be a scream. I don’t know how much she’ll remember. Actually I do none of it! So there will be a couple of lifts in there no doubt.”

Having been together for almost 20 years, Anton is delighted to be back in the harness with Erin. She had baby son Ewan by Caesarean section last April and she’s worked hard to get back to her dancing best.

“It always takes a bit longer after a Caesarean,” confides Anton. “While I was on Strictly she was working towards getting back in shape then we started working on the show. She’s done a great job and she looks amazing. She’s thrilled to be back on stage.”

Anton insists he’ll be back if asked for this year’s Strictly in fact he says he’ll show up even if the BBC don’t ask him! One pro almost certain to be missing is Ola Jordan.

There was speculation she’d be leaving anyway but then she suffered a horror knee injury training for Channel 4’s The Jump.

“I’m gutted for her,” adds Anton. “She’s a great girl. If she chooses not to do the show that’s fine. But you don’t want her not to be able to do it because she’s burst her knee.”

Dundee Caird Hall on February 19, Edinburgh Usher Hall on February 21 and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on February 22. For more information on the tour, visit antonanderin.com.