Strictly Come Dancing judge and former professional dancer Anton Du Beke delivered a heartfelt and emotional tribute to the late showbiz legend Sir Bruce Forsyth during an interview on the BBC’s Morning Live. Appearing alongside hosts Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh, Du Beke reflected on his nearly two decades with the dance competition and singled out Forsyth as his biggest inspiration (OK! Magazine).

The interview took place shortly after the current Strictly series passed its halfway point, having just waved goodbye to the sixth celebrity casualty, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (BBC). Du Beke, who turned 59 this year, has been an integral fixture of the programme since its inception in 2004, spending 15 years as a pro-dancer before joining the esteemed judging panel in 2021.¹ This long tenure meant he shared the iconic ballroom stage with Sir Bruce Forsyth, who co-hosted the show with Tess Daly from 2004 until his departure in 2013. Forsyth sadly passed away in August 2017 at the age of 89 (The Telegraph).²

The Best Teacher of All

Du Beke has never been shy about his deep admiration for Forsyth or his ambition to emulate the national treasure’s legendary career. He spoke candidly about how working alongside Bruce was the defining experience of his early Strictly years.

“I had the best teacher of all, I had the great Sir Bruce Forsyth as the man to look up to,” Du Beke stated on air. “He’s always been a hero of mine. One of the things about doing Strictly Come Dancing for me was being able to work with Brucie. That was the real thing for me” (Entertainment Daily). This relationship profoundly influenced Anton’s professional trajectory, leading to his eventual seamless transition from dancer to judge, a path that many commentators see as directly inspired by Forsyth’s versatility (The Sun).

The King of Old-School Variety

Anton went on to celebrate Forsyth’s unique style of entertainment, highlighting his mastery of “old-school variety” and his unmatched connection with the audience.

“He’s been my hero for forever. I just love that style of entertainment, that old-school variety, standing in front of an audience, having this with the audience,” Anton explained. He recalled how Bruce was the quintessential showman, seamlessly integrating the audience into the show’s fabric. “Brucie was the King of that. He used to be next to the audience—that’s why they had them so close, so he could be doing that: ‘Alright, my love,’” he reminisced fondly. “He was just the best,” Anton concluded, a sentiment shared by millions of British viewers who grew up watching Forsyth host various prime-time shows (The Times). Forsyth’s legacy is often credited with making Strictly Come Dancing the national Saturday night institution it remains today, setting a high benchmark for all subsequent entertainment hosts (The Guardian).

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