Producers of Strictly Come Dancing announce Anton Du Beke will replace Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel for next series. He will join fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas.
Tonioli has judged contestants on Strictly since 2004 but is forced to miss out on appearing on the hit BBC One programme this year. He is also a judge on the American version of the show, Dancing with the Stars, and cannot fly from the US back to England because of Covid restrictions.
Du Beke has featured as a professional dancer on the programme for 17 years, and the only one to have danced in every series of the popular show. The British ballroom and Latin dancer also enjoyed a two week stint filling in as judge on last year’s run.
Du Beke is absolutely delighted at his new role, saying: “My loves I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno’s brogues for the next series of Strictly”. He says it is “a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best”, and promises kindness to all the couples taking part. He claims he will be kinder to them than the judges have ever been to him.
‘Mr Strictly’
Tonioli is disappointed to lose out, but jokes: “Whilst I am gutted to not be on the show this year, there is one person and one person only that could take my place – it’s just a shame they weren’t available…haha! Darlings I’m kidding, I’m kidding!”. He goes on to describe Anton as “Mr Strictly”, agreeing that only he could do the job of filling in. He “wouldn’t have it any other way”. The replaced judge is excited to see his colleague in action, and can’t wait to “see him waggle his paddle”.
Meanwhile, spin off show Strictly: It Takes Two will also have a new host. Professional dancer Janette Manrara is leaving the dancefloor behind to replace departing presenter Zoe Ball. The announcement of the new line up of professional dancers for Strictly’s 2021 series is still to come.
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