I’ve never read any of the series so far (a mistake I intend to rectify stat! I loved this one so much, I immediately went out and bought the one set before this and am making my mission to get all the others in this series too!). Anton is sure an absolute natural writer and one where you effortlessly slip into the times and story he has created. It was a fantastically written historical fiction and I loved it from start to finish. Du Beke effectively cuts the glamour and aspiration of the ballroom with the grubby, ghastly side of the war at home’ - DAILY MAIL It took me a chapter or three to settle into this novel, there are a lot of characters to familiarise yourself with. But if you've read the previous books you won't have that settling in feeling. Anton Du Beke to join Strictly judges for new series". BBC News. 24 June 2021 . Retrieved 24 June 2021. Outside the hotel, London is also suffering. Not only from the real evil enemy and their bombings, but also closer to home from looters and profiteers. Raymond de Guise, home on leave and still affected by the death of his brother, is desperate to help so he joins a night watch. Helping him find his feet there is Cathy who has her own troubles which we soon discover.

So my loves, put on your thinking caps and come up with some wonderful questions for me to answer – it’ll be like #AskAnton from our zoom sessions… but live on stage! In 2009 he presented the United Kingdom version of Hole in the Wall for the BBC, replacing Dale Winton, after being a team captain in 2008. In November 2017 he released his debut studio album, From the Top, on Polydor Records. It reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart.

Keep up!

She gets to see her son Malcolm, now & again, as he's a pilot in the Australian airforce & flies over London trying to keep the enemy at bay. Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke announces birth of twins". News & Star. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018 . Retrieved 31 March 2017. Du Beke began dancing at 14, when he discovered his local dance school, the Holton School of Dancing in Sevenoaks. [4] He had three partners during these formative years before the Holton School of Dancing closed in 1987. Du Beke left school at 16 to follow an amateur dancing career. [4] At 17, he decided to specialise in ballroom. While he danced during the evenings and at weekends, he had a day job as a salesman in "The Bed Post" in Petts Wood, South London. [4] He dated television presenter Caroline Feraday from 2007 to 2008. [3]

It’s September 1940 and with bombs raining down every night, the staff do a magnificent job of keeping the guests happy, even if it’s down in the bunkers. The hotel receives a new manager who is of ‘advancing years’, and the staff as a result have no confidence in his ability to steer them through these difficult times – particularly as families start evacuating and high society start fleeing the city. Raymond de Guise is still at home recovering from his injuries at Dunkirk, but he's restless & joins the ARP, although he's not really healed enough to do anything, but he feels useless doing something to help the war effort. Add to the mix some war profiteering, some love found in old age, someone brought to madness by war's losses, and it would have been quite a good story if it wasn't for the editing.

‘A Christmas to Remember’

In 2009, Du Beke said that his dance partner Laila Rouass "looked like a paki" after she had arrived at rehearsal with a spray tan. Du Beke denied being racist and said that the comment was made "in jest". [10] [11] Other television appearances [ edit ]

Weekend Break with the Stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". www.donaheys.co.uk . Retrieved 5 October 2018. a b c d "Anton Du Beke interviewed by Kent Life". Kent Life. 18 October 2010 . Retrieved 12 August 2014. Huge apologies – I’m so sorry to be the bearer of such news, I know we’ve all been looking forward to the tour so much! Erin and I have recorded a special message for you in the video above – do please play it.

In Other News…

Home on leave and still reeling from the tragic events at Dunkirk, the dashing Raymond de Guise struggles to define his role in this new world, and to do his duty both to his country, and his beloved wife Nancy- who needs him now more than ever.