Anton Du Beke Announces Christmas Single Amid Fears of 'Strictly' Judging Panel Exodus
The 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge is releasing a new festive song as BBC executives reportedly worry about all four judges potentially leaving the show.
Anton Du Beke is trading the dance floor for a microphone with the announcement of his new Christmas single, "Dance My Way To Christmas," set for release on November 6.
Du Beke, 60, shared the news on Instagram, posting a video of himself in a festive jumper dancing in front of a Christmas tree. "My lo-ho-ho-ho-oves! My new single, Dance My Way To Christmas, released on Westway Music, will be all yours on 6th November! Get those dancing shoes ready... we’re going to jingle all the way! You can pre-save the single now! Link in bio. Love you all, Anton XX," he wrote.
This festive announcement comes as BBC bosses are reportedly concerned that all four 'Strictly Come Dancing' judges—Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Du Beke himself—might leave the show after the current season concludes. The contracts for all four judges are due for renegotiation at the end of this season.
Sources suggest that Shirley Ballas, 66, may be considering a move to the United States to be closer to her son, a professional dancer on America's 'Dancing With The Stars,' and her grandchildren. Insiders revealed to the Daily Mail that the BBC had counted on the judges' return for continuity, but the controversy surrounding the show's new format this year could prompt departures.
"The one thing that the BBC knew would keep some continuity this year was that the judges would all be back," a source told the Daily Mail. "They are under contract so that was a guarantee for the bosses and was definitely one less headache for them. But anything could happen. Any of them could walk away now and they will be free agents."
The source added, "The most likely is Shirley. She has done a decade now and she has grandchildren that she wants to see more of. The terms of their contracts will have to be renegotiated, and if the judges don't like what the BBC is offering maybe they won't return. It will all be very up in the air in December once this run is over."
Meanwhile, fans of the show have expressed frustration with the judges' scoring during the recent "Icons Week." Viewers took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize what they described as a "mess" of a leaderboard and "crazy" scoring, with many anticipating a dramatic dance-off.
One viewer commented, "Leaderboard in shambles this is going to be a mess." Another added, "The scoring tonight has been really crazy; The scoring is allllll over the shop tonight; the leaderboard is such a mess. i fear we're in for a shock dance off this week."
Viewers also questioned specific scoring decisions, with one saying, "I have never been more confused by the scoring than tonight. How did Graeme blag 7s there?! 6s would have been generous."
