Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has revealed he was stabbed by his father on Boxing Day and never saw him again, describing the incident as something he felt "embarrassed" about.
The 60-year-old dancer, who grew up in Sevenoaks, Kent, was raised by his mother Ascension, from Spain, and his father Antal, from Hungary. In his new book, Steps in Time: The Moments that Made Me, Du Beke describes a difficult relationship with his dad, who he said was a violent alcoholic.
Stabbing on Boxing Day
On one Boxing Day, Du Beke said he was on the phone with his dance teacher when he was stabbed in the leg and stomach by his father. He then staggered outside and flagged down a police car.
Speaking to The Times, he said: "The police carted him off, [but] after [the stabbing] I never laid eyes on him again."
Feeling embarrassed
Du Beke also said he felt "embarrassed" by the incident and told people that he had torn a hamstring. The TV star, who does not drink himself, said: "I don’t want people to think it defines me, but everybody’s an armchair psychologist.
"They go, ‘Oh, I see!’ No, I promise, you don’t see. I don’t drink. Before people know my father’s an alcoholic they go, ‘He doesn’t drink’. Now it’s, ‘I know why!’ Not the case. I tried drinking when I was 17 and was sick all over the place. Two pints of beer, head spinning, the whole thing. I’ve got no constitution and it’s hugely expensive. I’d rather spend the money on dancing lessons."
Father's death
Anton's father died in 2001, and he was informed about it over the phone. He said it "didn’t resonate at all" and he left a note for his mother to let her know.
Du Beke, who has been on Strictly since series one in 2004 and became part of the judging panel in series 19, also said he is not bothered about his troubled relationship with his father these days, saying: "I have to move on."
