Anton Du Beke
With impeccable posture and unflappable charm, he became the enduring gentleman of British ballroom, guiding celebrities through the glitter and missteps for two decades.
Born 1966 (age 60)·English dancer and TV presenter·Birthday: July 20·Generation X
Biography
Anton Du Beke is the polished oak floor upon which the modern British ballroom revival was built. Born Anthony Beke in Kent, he found his calling in dance halls, dedicating himself to the rigorous discipline of ballroom and Latin. His career, however, was forged in television. As an original professional on Strictly Come Dancing from its 2004 inception, Du Beke became a fixture of Saturday night television. Paired with a succession of celebrity partners, often those with two left feet, he became famous for his unshakeable patience, dry wit, and the elegant frame he provided for his partners. For years he was the show's bridesmaid, never lifting the glitterball trophy, yet his popularity never waned. This tenure evolved in 2021 when he ascended to the judge's panel, bringing a practitioner's insight and his trademark warmth. Beyond the studio lights, he is a successful stage performer, author of novels, and a symbol of how traditional dance can command a prime-time audience.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Anton was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Anton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a professional dancer on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing for its first 17 series, from 2004 to 2019.
- Authored multiple novels, including the 'One Enchanted Evening' series, blending his dance world knowledge with fiction.
- Successfully transitioned from professional dancer to a permanent judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021.
- Toured extensively in live dance shows across the UK, often with his long-term professional partner Erin Boag.
Did You Know?
His professional dance partnership with Erin Boag, formed in 1997, is one of the longest-running in British ballroom.
He is a talented amateur singer and released his own album of classic swing songs, 'From the Top', in 2017.
He was stabbed in the leg and stomach by his father during a domestic incident on Boxing Day in 2007.
He was considered for the role of head judge on Strictly Come Dancing before it was offered to Shirley Ballas.
““It's all about the performance, the storytelling, and the connection with your partner.””
