Strictly Come Dancing 2018: Anton du Beke reveals who he didn’t want on BBC show

  • Strictly's Anton du Beke has revealed that he didn't want a BBC host on the show
  • The professional dancer explained that the reason was all to do with golf
  • BBC's dancing competition will return to television at the start of September

By Ben Rabinovich

Published: | Updated:

The Strictly Come Dancing 2018 line up has been revealed and one of the show’s professional dancers Anton du Beke is happy that one particular BBC star isn’t involved.

While attending the show’s launch on the August Bank Holiday, Monday, August 27, BBC Breakfast caught up with du Beke, who has appeared in all 15 series of the dancing show, to ask him about the upcoming series.

‘It just gets better and better,’ du Beke enthused before quickly moving on to discuss which BBC Breakfast host he’s ‘delighted’ isn’t participating this year.

‘By the way, I’m delighted Dan Walker is not doing the show,’ he said with a smile on his face.

‘Just so you know, Dan, I love you, but I’m thrilled you’re not doing the show.’

Strictly Come Dancing's Anton du Beke revealed that he didn't want a BBC host on the show

Strictly Come Dancing's Anton du Beke revealed that he didn't want a BBC host on the show

Before anyone got the wrong idea, du Beke explained the light-hearted reason behind his thoughts, and it seems it’s all to do with a friendly golf rivalry, or rather Walker’s high level of skill

‘He hits the ball too far. He hits the golf ball like a quarter of a mile.’

The joke comes after Dan Walker inadvertently caused a Strictly stir in August 2018. 

The BBC broadcaster was long rumoured to join the 2018 lineup and fanned the flames, albeit only for a second, when he tweeted out that he would ‘100%’ be doing Strictly this year.

In the message, the broadcaster wrote: 'Now then... the rumours are not true. I am 100% doing @bbcstrictly this year. Too busy with life, @BBCbreakfast, Football Focus & a new quiz on @BBCOne starting next month called #Chasethecase'.

However, the presenter clearly was trying to say he was 100 per cent NOT doing the show, and subsequently tweeted: ‘Ooops! NOT DOING. Quite an important word to miss out. I shall be watching from the safety of the sofa.'

This year’s Strictly lineup has come under fire for featuring lesser known stars than in the past, with a Daily Mirror source revealing that 'the BBC's policy to save money has impacted on which people the show has signed.

'Previously they've been able to give a bigger fee to some, and others slightly lower,’ the source went on, adding that all the stars would now get the £25,000 flat fee.

‘In the interest of equality and BBC overspending, there are no exceptions.'

IN OTHER NEWS...

Anton Du BekeBBCStrictly Come Dancing

Most watched News videos