Anton Du Beke has spoken of how he thinks pantomime season will be the 'gateway to theatre' for next year.
The dancer was talking about his new venture onto the stage as this festive season he will be taking on the role of Buttons in Cinderella.
Anton will be at the Richmond Theatre from December 3 to January 2 2022 and will be juggling his busy Strictly judging schedule with his new role on the stage.
Appearing on the Steph's Packed Lunch show on Channel 4 on Friday (November 19), Steph McGovern ask if he was 'nervous' about taking on an acting role.
"I mean yeah, it's one of those funny thing really," Anton said: "It's panto but it's a show, it's a proper play with music and dance, it's a real thing.
"It's really important that because there are gags written in and there are feed lines to other actors, so it's all very well having fun with it but it's a serious script.
"It's a serious thing and you've got real great actors in the room doing their bit so you can't mess it up."
The 55-year-old star said he was 'really serious' about his new role especially because of the impact the pandemic has had on theatres over the last couple of years.
He explained: "I think this is a sort of gateway to theatre certainly for next year. People are going to be coming into the theatre with families and it's going to be full.
"It's going to give people the confidence to go to the theatre next year.
"So I'm excited about theatre next year and I really do think that this pantomime season is going to be the gateway to the new year and a new period. A new dawn for theatre."
Steph's Packed Lunch airs weekdays on Channel 4 from 12.30pm.
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