Anton Du Beke is one of the UK's most loved TV personalities thanks to his long-running role on Strictly Come Dancing.
Anton joined the hit BBC show as a professional dancer in 2004 and became a judge in 2021, taking over from Bruno Tonioli.
While we know all about Anton's glittering dance career, what do we know about his life away from Strictly?
The bubbly dancer and TV judge is all smiles on screen, but growing up he had a very tough childhood.
In his adult life, he met his wife in a "love at first sight" situation and became a dad to twins at the age of 51.
Anton Du Beke's wife
The pro dancer met his wife Hannah Summers back in 2011.
The couple met at a dinner party and Anton was instantly smitten - so much so he followed Hannah to the toilet for a chance to speak to her on her own, away from everyone else.
"I knew almost immediately that I loved her. She also loved me immediately but I was holding a bottle of wine," he said during an appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch back in 2021.
"I knew from my side it was almost immediately. I saw her across the table there and I thought, wow she is absolutely outrageous."
Anton was surprised that Hannah spoke to him, considering that he followed her to the bathroom, let alone felt the same way about him.
He continued: "She came out she looked at me and went 'Have you been waiting outside the ladies' for me? And I went 'Yes, it's because I love you.'"
Anton Du Beke's rarely seen children
Anton became a dad later in life, at the age of 51, as he and Hannah struggled to conceive.
Thankfully, the couple fell pregnant with twins via IVF and welcomed son George and daughter Henrietta in 2017.
When Anton won Best Judge at the National Television Awards, he gave a rare glimpse into life at home with his kids.
He told The Mirror: "My children are of a wonderful age and they are so involved with me. They knew I was going out to get an award as they get awards in school. When they found out I was going to the NTAs they were like ‘Good luck, Daddy.’
"Henrietta did this little thing with my hand and gave me a good luck charm. She said, ‘This is for good luck.’ It was so gorgeous. When I got home I put the award on the bedside table in our bedroom."
"I got up early the next morning and George came in. I could hear his feet and he turned to me and said, ‘Daddy, did you win a trophy? Or is it a medal?’ It was just wonderful."
"I never want it to change. They both want to become dancers and they watch Strictly. Henrietta is all over it and puts her own scores up."
Anton has previously told of how his children are his greatest joy.
"We had children when I was 50 and it has been the best thing that ever happened in my life," he said.
"We decided to have children and we went down the IVF route. We did it and had the greatest fortune as we became pregnant."
"We thank our lucky stars. It is the most incredible thing in the world and has been brilliant."
Tough childhood
Anton, real name Anthony Beke, recently opened up about his heartbreaking childhood, as his alcoholic father stabbed him in the stomach and leg when he was a child.
"You've got an alcoholic father and a situation where if you're in the house [he's] drinking. Then you end up with the fights and stuff," he told Kate Garraway on Life Stories.
"You'd move room to get away from all of it, and then he follows you in. And the next thing you know, the violence starts. And then it came to a head one evening.
"I mean I ended up in hospital for three days... I got stabbed," he said, struggling to hold back tears.
He added: "...I got stabbed in the leg and in the stomach because of a fight on Boxing Day and it was an idiotic situation.
"I remember walking out of the house - to walk up to the hospital - holding my leg and a police car drove past and I waved them down and I said, 'He's in there with a knife'.
"Anyway, they carted him off and I ended up in hospital for three or four days. My only concern was getting back into the studio and dancing and the embarrassment of it."
Anton's parents divorced and he lost contact with his father. He died in 2001, with Anton previously saying he did not attend his funeral. He said he felt very sorry for his mother.
Get the latest RSVP headlines straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this LINK to receive your daily dose of RSVP Live content. We also treat our community members to wonderful competitions, promotions, along with great stories. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice
