Strictly Come Dancing bosses torn over Anton Du Beke’s future on the show

TV bosses are said to be in “quandary” over who will make up next year’s judging panel on Strictly Come Dancing.

Anton Du Beke stepped in to replace Bruno Tonioli on this year's series, after covid-19 travel restrictions meant he couldn’t travel back for the series for the second year running.

Instead, Bruno chose to remain as a judge on the US version of the show, Dancing With The Stars.

But now, with fans calling for Anton—who previously confessed to being a "lunatic" before Strictly—to become a permanent fixture on the judging panel, with one fan tweeting, "Anton is a revelation as a judge on strictly. Can he replace Bruno for good?" Strictly bosses are said to be split between the two.

According to the Mail on Sunday, an insider said, “The BBC are in a real quandary here. Anton has been so loved and such a pro, so it seems wrong to get rid of him. It seems disloyal, but then it was Bruno's job.

“It would be going a bit far to suggest there is a row going on, but there is certainly much divided opinion over what they want for next year's show.”

Having been a professional dancer since the show began in 2004, Anton Du Beke is practically part of the furniture. But it’s feared he could quit entirely if he loses his spot on the panel.

With two young children, Henrietta and George, Anton, 55, admitted being a judge suits his lifestyle much more. 

“That is one of the plus sides of the role, that I've been afforded more time at home. Because I only ever do Saturdays, I'm just doing the weekends,” he confessed.

“What also is lovely is, I go on the school run in the morning, or I pick up in the afternoon, whatever it is, and the other children come up to me and they say, 'I saw you on the dancing. I saw you on the dancing'.”

While nothing has been confirmed for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, Bruno, 66, will appear as a judge on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour which starts next year. He’ll be joined by Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.