Strictly Come Dancing Star Reveals Personal Motivation Behind Name Change
Strictly Come Dancing judge and former professional dancer Anton Du Beke has shared the deeply personal reasons behind his decision to change his name, explaining it was never about creating a stage persona but rather about making a definitive break from a difficult past and fully embracing his chosen career path.
A Symbolic Fresh Start
During a candid conversation on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live with presenter Adrian Chiles, the 59-year-old television personality addressed questions about his name change from Tony Beke to Anton Du Beke. When Chiles questioned whether the name change was necessary for his success, Du Beke was emphatic in his response.
"Well, no, I mean, I think those two things don't correlate," he stated. "I wanted to start again in my life, and so I started with me. One thing doesn't drive the other thing. For me, it was all about being successful in what I was doing."
Complete Commitment to Craft
The ballroom star elaborated on his all-consuming dedication to dance during the radio interview, revealing how this commitment shaped his entire lifestyle. "Things like going on holiday or any of that sort of stuff were an anathema to me, because that meant I wasn't doing this," he explained. "I wasn't practising, rehearsing, training, competing, taking lessons, doing whatever it was I needed to do to make me better at this."
Du Beke described a competitive drive that left no room for distraction, adding: "If I wasn't doing it, somebody else would be somewhere in the world, and we'd come together in a competition and they'd beat me. So I had that sort of drive."
Leaving a Painful Past Behind
The deeper context behind Du Beke's need for a fresh start was explored during a previous appearance on ITV's Life Stories with Kate Garraway. The dancer spoke openly about his troubled relationship with his Hungarian father, Antal, who was an alcoholic and strongly opposed to his son's dancing ambitions.
In a particularly traumatic revelation, Du Beke described an incident where his father attacked him so violently that he required three days of hospital treatment after being stabbed. This event became a pivotal moment that prompted the dancer to sever ties with his father and completely rebuild his life.
From Tony Beke to Anton Du Beke
As part of this rebuilding process, the name change became a symbolic but significant step. He consciously left behind "Tony Beke, who grew up on a council estate" and embraced "Anton Du Beke, The Show Man." Reflecting on this transformation, he said: "I wanted a new start and a new beginning and I wanted to leave what went before, behind, and then move on with the rest of my life, I just wanted to be me."
A Strictly Stalwart
Anton Du Beke has been synonymous with Strictly Come Dancing since the show's inception in 2004, beginning as one of the original professional dancers before transitioning to a judging role. His traditional ballroom style, distinctive humour and undeniable showmanship have made him one of the programme's most enduring and popular figures.
Throughout his nearly two decades on the show, Du Beke has become a household name and a fixture of British Saturday night television. His recent revelations provide a deeper understanding of the personal journey behind the public persona, highlighting how professional dedication and personal transformation have been intertwined throughout his career.
