Anton du Beke

Du Beke was born in Sevenoaks, Kent, to a Hungarian father, Antal Xavier Beke (1939–2001), and a Spanish mother, Ascensión "Conchita" Lema.

He has two younger siblings, brother Stephen and his sister Veronica.

He attended Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks.

Du Beke has discussed his father's problems with alcoholism and revealed that he was stabbed by his father in the leg and stomach during a Boxing Day altercation at their home in Kent.

Du Beke began dancing at 14, when he discovered his local dance school, the Holton School of Dancing in Sevenoaks.

Anthony Paul Beke (born 20 July 1966), known professionally as Anton Du Beke, is a British ballroom and Latin dancer, author and television presenter, best known for being a professional dancer and a judge on the BBC One celebrity dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

He had three partners during these formative years before the Holton School of Dancing closed in 1987.

Du Beke left school at 16 to follow an amateur dancing career.

At 17, he decided to specialise in ballroom.

While he danced during the evenings and at weekends, he had a day job as a salesman in "The Bed Post" in Petts Wood, South London.

His professional dance partner since 1997 has been Erin Boag.

They met in 1997, and won the 1998 and 1999 New Zealand Championships.

They turned professional in 2002, competing mainly in the United Kingdom.

Their best result on the competition circuit was in November 2003 when they won the IDTA Classic in Brighton.

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

Du Beke has appeared in every series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing since its inception.

In the first series, he danced with singer Lesley Garrett and finished in third place.

For the second series, he partnered presenter Esther Rantzen; they were eliminated in the third week.

He danced with actress Patsy Palmer for the third series and finished in fifth place.

In the fourth series, he danced with actress and impressionist Jan Ravens but was eliminated in week five of the competition.

His partner for the fifth series was TV presenter Kate Garraway; the couple were voted out in week seven.

His partner for the sixth series was actress Gillian Taylforth; the couple were voted out in week two.

In series seven, he was partnered with Laila Rouass.

Together, they made it to week twelve.

In series eight, he partnered Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe.

Despite Widdecombe's poor dancing ability, they made it through to the quarter final.

For its ninth series, Nancy Dell'Olio was Anton's partner, the couple were eliminated in week five.

His partner for the tenth series was model and actress Jerry Hall.

They were eliminated in week three.

His partner for series eleven was actress Fiona Fullerton.

They were eliminated in week eight in Blackpool.

For the show's twelfth series, his partner was tennis coach Judy Murray.

He dated television presenter Caroline Feraday from 2007 to 2008.

Du Beke lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife Hannah Summers.

In 2009 he presented the United Kingdom version of Hole in the Wall for the BBC, replacing Dale Winton, after being a team captain in 2008.

In November 2016 the couple announced they were expecting twins, due in spring 2017.

In November 2017 he released his debut studio album, From the Top, on Polydor Records.

It reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart.

On 30 March 2017, his son George and daughter Henrietta were born, announced with an Instagram post.

Du Beke's regular professional partner is Erin Boag.