Anton Du Beke is a British ballroom dancer, television personality, author and singer best known for Strictly Come Dancing. He joined the programme’s original professional line-up in 2004 and became a full-series judge in 2021, after a short guest judging stint the previous year.
Born Anthony Paul Beke on 20 July 1966, he is 60 as of October 2026. He is married to Hannah Summers, and they have twins, George and Henrietta. His professional dance partner is Erin Boag. Beyond the ballroom, his career includes historical novels, children’s adventures, music, travel television and live shows, giving audiences several ways to discover his work.
A Dance Class in Sevenoaks Changed His Direction
Du Beke grew up in Sevenoaks, Kent. His official biography traces his interest in dancing to a visit to a local class at 14, when he went to meet his sister.
That introduction developed into regular training. He studied ballet, contemporary dance, jazz and modern theatre dance before making ballroom his main focus.
After leaving school at 16, he worked during the day to help pay for lessons. Evenings provided time to practise, and by 17 he was specialising in ballroom and competing as an amateur.
His early inspiration included Fred Astaire. His official biography also identifies the foxtrot as a favourite dance, reflecting the traditional elegance associated with his later performances.
The television career came after this groundwork. By the time he appeared on Strictly, he had already spent years developing his technique, musical understanding and competitive experience.
Erin Boag and the Foundations of His Professional Career
His partnership with Erin Boag began in 1997. They won the New Zealand Championships in 1998 and 1999 before turning professional in 2002.
Their competitive career included major ballroom events and appearances in British national competitions. Both then joined the first series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004.
The programme introduced their work to a much wider audience. Although they taught different celebrities, their own professional partnership continued beyond the weekly competition.
Theatre became another part of their work together. Stage productions gave them space to present a broader programme of dancing than a single television routine allowed.
For readers unfamiliar with their relationship, the distinction is straightforward: Boag is his professional dance partner, while Hannah Summers is his wife. The shared use of the word “partner” sometimes causes confusion.
What He Achieved Across 18 Strictly Series
Du Beke competed in 18 main series between 2004 and 2020. That total refers to series, rather than calendar years, because Strictly broadcast two competitions in 2004.
His first celebrity partner was opera singer Lesley Garrett. They finished third in the inaugural series, establishing him as one of the programme’s original familiar faces.
His later partners included Esther Rantzen, Patsy Palmer, Kate Garraway, Laila Rouass, Judy Murray and Ruth Langsford. Working with people from different backgrounds made teaching central to his role.
A performer could feel comfortable in front of cameras yet still struggle with ballroom posture or timing. Someone with little stage experience might need confidence before they could deliver a routine convincingly.
His strongest later results included reaching the final with Katie Derham in 2015 and Emma Barton in 2019. Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith became his final main-series celebrity partner in 2020.
He never won the main competition as a professional. However, his record includes successful competitive runs and partnerships remembered for their entertainment value.
One personal milestone arrived at Blackpool in November 2019. His American Smooth with Barton earned his first scores of 10 on the programme, with 37 points overall.
Why the Ann Widdecombe Partnership Remains Memorable
His 2010 partnership with former MP Ann Widdecombe remains a distinctive chapter in his Strictly career.
They finished sixth, presenting routines with a strong emphasis on theatricality and entertainment. Their appearances became widely discussed during the series.
The partnership also illustrated how Strictly works as both a dance contest and a television programme. Judges assess performances, while viewers decide which couples they want to support.
That combination allows personality, humour and the relationship between teacher and contestant to influence a couple’s progress.
Widdecombe’s run differed from his final appearances with Derham and Barton. Taken together, those partnerships show the range of contestants he taught and the different demands of the professional role.
The Move from Teaching Celebrities to Judging Them
Du Beke first guest-judged in 2020, appearing on the panel for two weeks. His first appointment covering a full series followed in 2021.
He joined while Bruno Tonioli could not participate because of uncertainty around international travel during the pandemic. His return was confirmed for 2022, and he continues on the judging panel in 2026.
The dates describe separate stages. Saying he first judged in 2020 is accurate, but 2021 marks the beginning of his full-series role.
The move changed his weekly responsibilities. As a professional, he concentrated on one celebrity’s development and prepared choreography around that person’s abilities. As a judge, he assesses performances across the competition.
His background gives him direct experience of rehearsals, live performance and teaching beginners. He understands the challenge of remembering choreography while maintaining timing, posture and confidence.
That experience provides the connection between his years on the dance floor and his later position behind the judges’ desk.
Marriage, Fatherhood and His Twins
Du Beke married Hannah Summers in 2017. The couple also became parents that year, welcoming twins George and Henrietta in March.
As of October 2026, the children are nine years old.
He has referred to them in public material connected with his work. An announcement introducing his children’s novel Code Name Foxtrot, for example, mentioned a video featuring the twins.
Reports of his marriage appeared in May 2017. The date a story was published should not automatically be treated as the wedding date.
His family life is separate from the professional partnerships that appear throughout his career. Hannah is his wife, Boag is his ballroom partner, and his former celebrity partners were contestants he taught during individual Strictly series.
Questions about the children’s health sometimes appear in suggested searches. A search phrase alone does not establish a medical condition and should not be treated as evidence of a diagnosis.
The Buckingham Hotel Books in Reading Order
His first novel, One Enchanted Evening, was published in 2018. It introduces the fictional Buckingham Hotel and the dancers, staff and guests whose lives intersect there.
The series combines relationships, ambition and secrets with a historical setting that moves from the 1930s into the Second World War.
For new readers, publication order provides a clear route through the recurring characters:
- One Enchanted Evening — 2018
- Moonlight Over Mayfair — 2019
- A Christmas to Remember — 2020
- We’ll Meet Again — 2021
- The Ballroom Blitz — 2022
- The Paris Affair — 2023
- A Dance for the King — 2024
- The Winter Ball — 2025
These are original publication years. Booksellers may display different dates for paperback editions, audiobooks and reissues.
Starting with the first novel helps readers follow the relationships and background behind later events. The books are fiction, rather than autobiographical accounts of his television career.
His other novels include The Royal Show and Monte Carlo by Moonlight.
For younger readers, he has written Code Name Foxtrot, published in 2024, and Operation Tango, published in 2025. These are separate from the adult Buckingham Hotel sequence.
Readers interested in his own experiences can look to Steps in Time, his debut memoir. As of 17 October 2026, publication is scheduled for 5 November 2026.
Television, Music and Projects Beyond the Ballroom
Strictly remains his best-known programme, but his credits also include presenting and travel television.
He has guest-presented This Morning and appeared in Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures in Sicily, broadcast in 2023. His album From the Top adds recorded music to his wider performance career.
In June 2026, he and fellow Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood launched Judgemental. The podcast takes their conversations beyond dancing, covering popular culture, etiquette and stories submitted by listeners.
His official website lists the Steps in Time memoir tour during autumn 2026 and Anton at Christmas during December.
These are different productions. The memoir events centre on stories and memories from his life, while the Christmas show is presented as festive entertainment.
Anyone choosing a performance should check the individual production and venue details. A book event may have a different format and ticket package from a theatre show.
(FAQs)
How old is Anton Du Beke?
He is 60 as of October 2026. He was born on 20 July 1966.
What is his real name?
His birth name is Anthony Paul Beke.
Who is his wife?
He is married to Hannah Summers. They married in 2017.
How many children does he have?
He has twins, George and Henrietta, born in March 2017. They are nine as of October 2026.
Did he ever win Strictly Come Dancing?
No. He never won the main series as a competing professional, although he reached the finals with Katie Derham in 2015 and Emma Barton in 2019.
When did he become a Strictly judge?
He first guest-judged in 2020 and joined the panel for a full series in 2021.
What order should you read his Buckingham Hotel books in?
Read them in this order: One Enchanted Evening, Moonlight Over Mayfair, A Christmas to Remember, We’ll Meet Again, The Ballroom Blitz, The Paris Affair, A Dance for the King and The Winter Ball.
Conclusion
Anton Du Beke’s career spans competitive ballroom dancing, television, books and live performance. His partnership with Erin Boag helped establish his professional foundations before Strictly Come Dancing introduced him to a wider audience. Years of teaching celebrity contestants then paved the way for his move to the judging panel. Beyond television, his novels offer readers a fictional world shaped by dance, relationships and history. Marriage to Hannah Summers and fatherhood to their twins form another part of his story. Together, these experiences show how his career has developed while maintaining a lasting connection to the ballroom.
