Anton Du Beke candidly opened up about his childhood (Image: BBC)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 NoticeAnton Du Beke has candidly opened up about his childhood, heartbreakingly revealing his father used to beat him with a belt. Back in 2020, the Strictly Come Dancing judge, 58, candidly told how his father, Antal, was physically abusive towards him as a child and they “didn’t have a relationship”. Dad of two Anton, who welcomed twins after his wife went through IVF, opened up about his childhood to The Times and spoke of how his dad was often drunk. Speaking of his dad, who died in 2001, he explained: “He was the hard, eastern European type. Heavy drinker, heavy smoker. It was a different time and you’d have the belt taken to you and stuff like that. He’d just fly off the handle and he was always slightly aggressive anyway.”
Anton du Beke has revealed his father was physically abusive towards him as a child
However, Anton admitted his father was not abusive towards his mother or towards his siblings, as he bore the brunt of his dad’s anger. Anton looked back at how he used to avoid his father as much as possible, as he continued: “There was always the moment when you came home and opened the front door thinking, ‘I hope he’s not home,’ and trying to avoid him, and not going into the room he was in because there was no benefit of being in the same room as him.”
Anton now has two children, George and Henrietta, with wife Hannah Summers
The professional dancer-turned-judge also revealed how his father wasn’t supportive of his dream to become a dancer and made a “derogatory” comment about his talent. Anton’s mother, Ascensión, and father, Antal, eventually divorced and Anton cut all contact with his father. It wasn’t until 2001 when Anton heard about his father again, when he was at his mum’s house and they received a call from the coroner’s office. Recalling the moment he discovered his dad had died, he said: “I knew he was going to tell me my father had died and I didn’t care. Or want to know. He was a stranger to me. That sounds a bit harsh and I don’t mean to sound like that.” Despite his difficult relationship with his father, Anton said his “incredible” mother has always been backing his dream to become a dancer. He revealed his Spanish mother worked three jobs so he could have dance lessons. Anton spent a whopping 6 years as a professional dancer on the show before joining Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood on the judging panel three years ago, and has entertained us with some fabulous telly gold since.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
