‘I got turned down’: Strictly’s Anton Du Beke revealed he auditioned to replace Len Goodman when the head judge left the panel in 2016
Anton Du Beke has revealed he auditioned to replace head judge Len Goodman on Strictly Come Dancing, but was turned down.
Len, 76, departed the show in 2016 and Shirley Ballas, 60, was announced as his replacement.
Anton, 54, who stood in for Motsi Mabuse during last year’s show, spoke about the rejection and how amazing it felt to be part of the judging panel temporarily on Thursday’s edition of Steph’s Packed Lunch.
Disappointed: Anton Du Beke has revealed he auditioned to replace head judge Len Goodman on Strictly Come Dancing, but was turned down
Anton said: ‘You know what they say about you lose more than you win…
‘When Len left Strictly Come Dancing, they interviewed and auditioned a number of people to take over… I auditioned for it and I got turned down.’
Host Steph pointed out to Anton that Strictly bosses recently ‘came knocking when they needed you’, when he filled in as judge in place of Motsi Mabuse on the 2020 series.
Anton laughed: ‘Well I don’t like to brag!’
Farewell: Len, 76, departed the show in 2016 and Shirley Ballas, 60, was announced as his replacement (pictured on the show in 2010)
‘I got turned down!’: Anton, 54, who stood in for Motsi Mabuse during last year’s show, spoke about the rejection on Thursday’s edition of Steph’s Packed Lunch
He went on to say that rejection ‘doesn’t mean it’s the end, it just means you go ‘well ok, I can go again…’
Back in October, Anton sat on the Strictly panel as he filled in for Motsi – who was forced to isolate for two weeks after travelling to Germany.
The dance expert recently thanked TV bosses for granting his showbiz wish to become a judge on the hit show.
Speaking for the first time about his temporary role, Anton told Mail On Sunday: ‘Thank goodness they gave me that job. My ego was around my ankles after getting booted off first this year.’
Time to shine: Host Steph pointed out to Anton that Strictly bosses recently ‘came knocking when they needed you’, when he filled in as judge in place of Motsi Mabuse on the 2020 series
The presenter revealed Hannah burst into tears when he got off the phone to the show’s executives, detailing: ‘It came out of the blue.
‘We heard Motsi had to go back to Germany and I didn’t know what they were going to do. Then, last Thursday, I got a phone call when they asked me to do it. I was so, so happy.
‘I love the show. I love everything about it, so to finally get a chance to judge it was incredible. My wife cried when I told her but I also thought that it would give me something to do for the rest of the series.
‘When you’re voted off at the beginning you have nothing to do. It’s easy not to feel part of the show because you’re sitting in the audience watching everyone else dance. So thank goodness they gave me the judging job.
‘My children say Daddy either dances or talks on the television, so they saw me talk last weekend and this one.’
Steph’s Packed Lunch airs weekdays at 12.30pm on Channel 4.
Fan favourite: Strictly fans have made no secret that they want Anton to be a permanent fixture on the judging panel (pictured Motsi, Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel-Horwood)