Anton Du Beke teases Strictly hosting role is his 'next step' as bookies declare he's a 'very hard choice to beat'
'The fans would absolutely adore him,' ex-pro Erin Boag commented
Anton Du Beke is being seriously backed to become the new host of Strictly Come Dancing – and the man himself is doing nothing to quieten the rumour mill.
Earlier today (December 19), Anton appeared on This Morning to talk about this weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing final. On the show, hosts Dermot O’Leary and Angela Scanlon asked about Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s upcoming departure.
And, of course, talk turned to who would be the new host of the BBC dance show…
Strictly hosting role ‘next step’ for Anton Du Beke?
Anton has made no secret of wanting to follow in his idol Sir Bruce Forsyth‘s footsteps and host the show.
Speaking on This Morning today, he tried to swerve Dermot and Angela’s direct questions over whether he would replace Tess Daly as host of the show. “Well,” he said, giggling.
“Next step do you think?” he teased.
The show’s former pros are all starting to come out in support of Anton. Earlier this week, Ian Whaite declared that Anton had told him he’d “love” to host the show. Erin Boag, Anton’s old professional dance partner, is also backing her pal for the role.
‘We need a polished showbiz man in a suit’
Speaking on behalf of Slingo’s Bingo Card Generator, Erin declared: “I love Claudia and Tess, but I’ve always felt the show needs a suited and booted man to host it. There’s already a lot of campness, so having a male presenter brings balance. Alan Carr has apparently been in the running, and I adore him, but he’s not quite right for this role.
“We’ve also had two female hosts, so I think we now need a polished, showbiz man in a suit in the tradition of someone like Sir Bruce Forsyth.”
Becoming the second ex-pro to back Anton Du Beke, she added: “I would love to see my former pro partner, Anton Du Beke, do it. He would be fantastic. He knows the show inside out, having started as a professional dancer and then moved on to judging, and he’s hugely respected.
“The fans would absolutely adore him. He is everything the show represents; he’s part of the furniture. I’ve always thought he should have been a host rather than a judge. And alongside him, in the Claudia-style role, Zoe Ball would be brilliant. She’s a much-loved personality with exactly the right amount of warmth and quirkiness.”
Holly Willoughby ‘not right’ to host Strictly
With the hunt well and truly underway for the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing, Erin has also warned BBC bosses against recruiting ex-This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby for the role.
Holly is believed to be one of the names on the BBC’s “Golden 10” shortlist to host the show. It was claimed earlier this month that the 10 shortlisted stars would be invited to a chemistry testing day in the New Year. After that, producers would have a clear idea over who would work well as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Amanda Holden has already ruled out herself and Alan Carr for the job. And now ex-pro dancer Erin has stated that Holly Willoughby really isn’t right for the role. In fact, she declared that if she was brought it, “it would ruin the show”.
“Holly Willoughby would not be right for the role. She doesn’t know the world of dancing and she hasn’t set foot on the Strictly floor. She’s a great host but she wouldn’t work,” she said.
Doubling down on her comments, Erin added: “She’s totally wrong for the show. If the BBC brings in someone with nothing to do with dancing, it would ruin the show.”
Bookies back Anton
Meanwhile, Anton Du Beke is being backed by bookies as a frontrunner to take on the role.
Shane Orton of SportsCasting UK told us: “Anton Du Beke is firmly in the frame at 4/1 to step into a Strictly host role, and it would feel like a natural fit. He’s one of the show’s most recognisable faces, hugely popular with viewers and already brings warmth, humour and authority every time he’s on screen. If the BBC opts for a safe pair of hands who embodies the spirit of Strictly, Anton would be a very hard choice to beat.”
