Strictly’s Anton Du Beke reveals real name and why he changed it – after saying he was stabbed by his dad as a child
STRICTLY’S Anton Du Beke has revealed his real name and why he changed it, after saying he was stabbed by his dad as a child.
While he’s been known to fans of the BBC talent show since its 2004 launch, fans may be surprised by his latest admission.
The former ballroom pro was once the longest-serving dancer on the show, but he joined the judging panel in 2021 alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
During an upcoming interview on Kate Garraway‘s Life Stories, he confessed his name isn’t actually what we all thought.
Born Anthony Paul Beke, his close friends and family call him Tony, the star admitted on the ITV programme.
Also during his sit-down with Kate, the TV personality revealed he was once stabbed by his drunk dad during years of terror at home.
He was called gay by dad Antal because of his ballroom dancing dreams.
One Boxing Day, teenage Anton was knifed in the stomach and leg.
With tears in his eyes, Anton recalled: “It came to a head one evening. I ended up in hospital for three days. I got stabbed.
“This is the first time I’ve even mentioned it. I’m sure my friends and family don’t even know.”
The telly favourite has previously told how his father beat him with a belt, but now opened up about the full extent of the abuse.
Tearful Anton recalled how he waved down a police car as he limped to hospital after being stabbed by his father.
Pointing back to his house, he told cops: “He’s in there with a knife.”
Anton, opened up for the first time about the full extent of the abuse dished out by his boozy dad in the emotional interview with Kate.
He told her: “I’ve never spoken about this before in my entire life. You’ve got an alcoholic father and a situation where, if you’re in the house then there’s the drinking and you end up with the fights and stuff.
“And you’d move room to get away from all of it and he’d follow you in. And then next thing you know the violence starts.”
He added: “It came to a head one evening. I ended up in hospital for three days.”
With his voice cracking, he went on: “I got stabbed. I’ve never said this out loud before. I got stabbed in the leg and in the stomach.
“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 him down and I said, ‘He’s in there with a knife.'”
- Kate Garraway’s Life Stories airs tonight at 9pm on ITV.