OHMYGOSSIP — Craig Revel Horwood has said it was time for Anton Du Beke to “give up the dance shoes”.
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge revealed he’s “delighted” to be welcoming the BBC show’s longest-serving pro dancer to the panel after 17 years on the ballroom floor, and he had no idea the change was coming after chatted to Bruno Tonioli earlier this year.
Appearing on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ on Thursday (24.06.21), he said: “We’ve just been filming a road trip together, and we were talking about whether he is going to be able to fly backwards and forwards [from his LA home].
“And of course he can’t. It’s just too risky I think at the moment.
“So delighted when Anton got the job, I was over the moon. In fact I spoke to him on the way to the studio here today and he’s super excited, as we all are.
“And isn’t it about time, darling? I mean there is a point in your life where you have to give up the dance shoes and hang them up at some stage. So he deserves it, and he’s great.”
When ‘This Morning’ host Holly Willoughby pointed out that Anton “knows the show inside out, Craig agreed and added: “Well of course! He’s original.”
However, Craig stressed that the change for this year doesn’t mean Bruno – who has featured on the programme since its launch in 2004 – is on his way “out” permanently.
He said: “You know, Bruno’s not ‘out’ out in that way, he may come back next year, who knows?
“But I’m so delighted to welcome Anton onto the panel.”
Bruno will not be able to take part in the 19th series due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding international travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.
Anton, who will join Craig and his fellow returning judges Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse, said: “My loves I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno’s brogues for the next series of ‘Strictly’.
“It’s a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them have ever been to me.”
Source: VacationHunter.Online
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