Strictly Come Dancing star Anton du Beke didn't hold back as he took aim at ITV ’s rival to the hit show. The 58-year-old has been part of Strictly for the past two decades, first as a professional and more recently as part of the judging panel. Anton says he feels “so proud” to be one of the three people involved in the show to have been there from the start - along with Tess Daly and Craig Revel Horwood.
And while Strictly’s popularity has seen dad-of-two Anton branching out into other reality shows, including presenting and competing in Hole in the Wall in 2008, he has ruled out taking part in the likes of I’m A Celebrity or Dancing on Ice . Anton has now revealed why fans won’t see him in the jungle or donning ice skates. Speaking to Woman magazine, he said: “I couldn’t do I’m A Celebrity because I’m so arachnophobic - there was a spider near me this morning and I ran around like a seven-year-old girl.
In fact, my daughter who is seven looked at me as if I was losing my head and said, ‘Daddy, what’s wrong with you, it’s only a spider?’. “So no, I couldn’t do I’m A Celeb, I’d be hysterical. Dancing on Ice I think is terribly dangerous, people keep doing themselves in.
I don’t want to do anything that hurts.” Anton has also revealed what he thinks makes Strictly a success. He praised the show, branding it “endearing” and “joyous”, believing audiences appreciate the fact the show blends both fun and serious elements of competit.