Anton Du Beke has vowed to Keep Dancing and says Strictly will continue this year despite speculation the show is on the rocks.
The star said that the start of the hit BBC1 programme could even be pushed back until October.
And he rubbished reports that bookers were struggling to sign up celebrities to the show because of the lockdown. Anton said: “It’s the sort of thing that can be a bit fluid, they might have double eliminations, they might have a
bigger final.
“You’ve got to be adaptable to the situation really. Nobody can stay the same.”
He said of reports that bookers were failing to get anyone to commit to the show: “I don’t think lockdown will make any difference to recruiting for the show, people either want to do it or they don’t.”
And he said that the start of the show would be a moment the country can come together – and it was a boost during these turbulent times.
He said: “To be honest, by the time we get round to Strictly, everybody will be ready for it, won’t they?”
The 53-year-old also spoke about the departures of AJ Pritchard and Kevin Clifton who both quit the show before the start of the new series.
He said: “I didn’t see it coming. They will be missed in the same way that everyone is missed. Then we end up with new people in the show and then everyone welcomes the new people into the fold. Then you just crack on, really.”
Moonlight Over Mayfair by Anton Du Beke, published by Zaffre, out now in paperback, eBook & audio book.
