Darcey Bussell shocked Strictly Come Dancing fans when she announced that she was quitting the show.
Speaking out, the 49-year-old said that she was “not leaving because of any upset or disagreement” but to focus on “other commitments”.
Shocked by the news as much as the rest of the nation, Anton du Beke opened up about the announcement and his thoughts on the ballet dancer’s replacement.
He said: “Well it was a shock, it was out of the blue. She is going to be missed, certainly by me, I think she is wonderful.
“I think she caught everybody on the hop, I thinks she caught Strictly on the hop.”
He continued: “It is not like when Len [Goodman] left, he announced I am leaving, this is my last year.
“Darcy didn’t mention it at all, so I think she made the decision that she didn’t want to come back anymore for the reason she gave. But the BBC don’t need to make a decision like tomorrow they have got plenty of time to workout who it will involve.”
Speaking about the former judge’s replacement, Anton shared: “It was so weird when Len left getting somebody new in, I just think it is important they have a professional dancer on there not somebody that happens to be quite good.
EXIT: Darcey Bussell recently revealed that she was quitting Strictly Come Dancing (Pic: WENN)
REPLACEMENT: Anton du Beke opened up about Darcey Bussell’s replacement (Pic: WENN)
“It needs to be a professional dancer like Craig, a dancer like Darcey, like a Shirley, like a Bruno, like a Len.
Describing the ideal candidate, he said: “I don’t think age matters, if they are a boy of a girl.
“I think the integrity has to be paramount because the viewers know what they are watching now because they have been watching it a long time so they need to know they are in safe hands and I think that is important as it was with Shirley.”
“I think Shirley got the job because she is brilliant, I am not even bothered what background they are from, they don’t need to be a ballroom Latin dancer they can be a classical dancer like Shirley or commercial like Darcey,” he added.
PROFESSIONAL: Anton du Beke said the replacement should be a pro like Shirley (Pic: WENN)
WINNER: Anton du Beke would love be work on the panel if he was asked (Pic: WENN)
Talking about whether he might win next year, Beke jokingly said: “Well I don’t know it depends who they give me.”
Opening up about his previous partners, he explained: “It’s not my fault they don’t win I am really good, that is the thing.
“It is nothing to do with me, it is to do with my partners, the whole point is I am really good.”
Explaining what the main point of the show is, he added: “It is not really about me or the pro’s it’s about the celebrities, that is the show, it is Strictly with celebrities so really if they give me somebody who has potential to win then that is a winner.
SPOOF: Anton du Beke stars in a new spoof campaign First Mates (Pic: SUPPLIED)
“I would like to because I haven’t won yet, but it is not the end of the world.”
Sharing what he finds is the most important part of the show, Anton said: “I have been very fortunate with the people I have danced with, maybe not with the quality of their dancing but the ladies themselves have been wonderful.
“That is really what I take away from Strictly more than anything else are the friendships.”
With the return of Strictly still months away, Anton revealed all about a new project he’s working on.
DATING: The doggy dating show is to promote the new cartoon Might Mike (Pic: SUPPLIED )
Now that he has kids of his own, Anton revealed he is doing a new campaign for the release of Boomerang’s new cartoon Mighty Mike.
The new animation follows the haphazard efforts of a pug named Mike, to celebrate its release, Anton has starred in a hilarious spoof called ‘First Mates’.
Performing with his usual grace as the Maitre D of the restaurant, he plays cupid to two dogs in the most outrageous comedy spoof.
Trying to set up the real life Mighty Mike, things take a turn for the worst when the naughty pug gulps down his dates dinner.
Well they do say never work with children and animals.
