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HomeSourcestelegraph.co.ukKate Garraway's Life Stories with Anton Du Beke, ITV1: from violent childhood...

Kate Garraway’s Life Stories with Anton Du Beke, ITV1: from violent childhood to Strictly star

Du Beke speaks movingly about the abuse he suffered at the hands of his alcoholic father, including being stabbed in the leg on Boxing Day

Anton Du Beke has always been a consummate performer – not just on the dancefloor, but in all his public appearances. I remember sitting in the studio audience during an early series of Strictly Come Dancing, and while the other professional dancers gave a wave and a smile, Du Beke came over to chat to the crowd. He whizzed along the aisles, making sure to say hello to everyone, and making their day in the process.

This is all part of being Anton Du Beke, the showbiz star. But in Kate Garraway’s Life Stories (ITV1), he revealed why he adopted that name in the first place, having been born plain Anthony Beke. “I wanted a new start and I wanted to leave what went before behind and then move on with the rest of my life. I just wanted to be me,” he explained. “I started with Anton Du Beke and I went from there.” 

It was the beginning of a great interview, in which Du Beke spoke for the first time about the worst moments in his early life. His father was a violent alcoholic who physically abused him and mocked him for wanting to dance, taunting him as “gay”. One Boxing Day, he stabbed his son in the leg and stomach during a fight. 

“It’s the first time I’ve even mentioned it out loud. I’m sure my friends and family don’t even know. I’ve never mentioned it before because what’s to be gained from it?” he asked Garraway. And it’s not clear why he had decided to speak about it now, but perhaps it’s because this show – rather like Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs – provides an atmosphere in which people feel comfortable. 

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