Strictly star Anton Du Beke fears he could be axed from the show, despite being a housewives favourite.
The veteran ballroom dancer discussed his fears and shared he is grateful for being on the hit series as he said: “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.
“I’m walking through fields of gold. But that doesn’t mean I don’t worry. I work in this peculiar business called show and you always think it might end tomorrow.”
Anton, 53, added: “Look at poor old Brendan [Cole]. I love him dearly. But one day you’re in; the next, you’re out.”
Former Strictly pro Brendan, 43, left the show after 15 years after angry run-ins with Head Juge Shirley Ballas.
Anton said: “I still see him. He’s doing great. He and his wife had a second baby, a little boy.
“He’s earning a decent living. But being let go by Strictly knocked him. Massively, I think. It must have done. And it wasn’t his decision.
“We have very different temperaments. He’s passionate, fiery. I’ve always tried to diffuse any potentially difficult situation with humour.
“That doesn’t make me less passionate about what I do but it probably means I have more fun.”
In week seven Anton argued with Shirley after she slated his rhumba with dance partner Emma Barton, 42.
Cutting Shirley short, he said: “There’s no need for you to say any more - you’re welcome to say nothing else.”
Anton says his wife and children are now the centre of his universe.
He married Hannah Summers in 2017.
The couple live in Buckinghamshire with their twins, George and Henrietta, two and a half.
Anton - whose told how the pair used IVF after Hannah struggled to conceive - said: “It was the best thing to happen in the history of the world.”
And there’s not only drama on the dancefloor...but at home too.
“We’ve got a 50-inch, flat screen telly in the playroom. I turned it on the other day and there was a big hole in the screen. Henrietta had hit it with a plastic golf club.” He laughs.
“Your eyes have to be everywhere. Everything is a potential hazard. The door handles are too low. The corner of that table is too sharp.”
Despite being dubbed the “King of Ballroom” and appearing in all 16 series to date, Anton has yet to be on the winning side.
He has often been paired with the contest’s older, and sometimes less nimble, female stars including Ann Widdecombe and Susannah Constantine.
This series he is paired with Eastenders actress Emma - who has been criticised by the judges for not putting in enough practice which left them at the bottom of the leaderboard.
He said: “I thought she danced it well.
“But I accept that you can’t judge yourselves against other couple. And someone has to the bottom of the leaderboard. All you can do is just try your best every week and see how you go.”
“I’m always eternally grateful to the public for saving us. They’ve come to my rescue a number of times over the years.”
Anton and Emma currently live to dance another day. But, if they turn out not to be the couple who raise aloft the prized glitterball, who does he think will be the ultimate winners?
Ever canny, he won’t name names.
“It’s a very close competition this year, “ he said, “and a high standard so it’s difficult to pick a winner. But, of course, Emma has my vote!”
* Moonlight Over Mayfair by Anton Du Beke, audio, eBook & Hardback, Zaffre, is out now
