Anton Du Beke is now a judge on Strictly having previously been one of the show’s professional dancers (Image: w8media)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy Notice Former Strictly Come Dancing pro-dancer turned judge Anton Du Beke has been named to lawyers Carter Ruck by former celebrity dance partner Laila Rouass, according to the Mirror. The 57 year old dancer and presenter was paired with the former Hollyoaks and Footballers’ Wives actress in the 2009 edition of the show. It is understood that Laila’s complaint to lawyers follows a remark made by Anton at the time, in which he commented that the star looked like “a P***” after she had been given a spray tan. He later apologised for the comment, saying: “I must say immediately and categorically that I am not a racist and that I do not use racist language. During the course of rehearsals Laila and I have exchanged a great deal of banter entirely in jest, and two weeks ago there was an occasion when this term was used between the two of us.” “There was no racist intent whatsoever but I accept that it is a term which causes offence and I regret my use of it, which was done without thought or consideration of how others would react. I apologise unreservedly for any offence my actions might have caused.” Sign up to OK’s TV newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Laila Rouass with Strictly dance partner Anton Du Beke in 2009
(Image: BBC)
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At the time, Laila, who has an Indian mother and Moroccan father, accepted Anton’s apology. “It was a situation which happened that we have moved on from and I accept his apology,” she said. A BBC spokesperson commented to OK!: “We will not be commenting on individuals or engaging in/with speculation. However, as we have said previously we will always listen if people want to make us aware of something or raise it with us directly and we have appropriate procedures and processes in place to manage this.” At least two other celebrities have made complaints about their treatment on Strictly Come Dancing in recent weeks, with the BBC launching an investigation following Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott coming forward about their experiences of training with Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, respectively.
Anton and Laila on Strictly together in 2009
The accusations have led to the BBC announcing new measures to be put in place during filming of the next series of Strictly later this year. In a statement on Tuesday 16 July, the BBC said: “The BBC is today announcing additional steps to strengthen welfare and support on Strictly Come Dancing. Concerns that have arisen in recent months have been fundamentally about training and rehearsals. The actions we announce today are designed to address that.” Measures will include a celebrity welfare producer and a professionals welfare producer, and there will be a member of Strictly staff present at all training and rehearsals. The production team and crew will also be given further training. OK! has contacted representatives of Anton Du Beke for comment. A representative for Laila Rouass declined to comment when approached by the Mirror.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnAnton Du BekeStrictly Come Dancing
