Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has revealed he "never laid eyes" on his father again following a shocking stabbing incident when the dancer was in his mid-twenties. The 60-year-old grew up in Sevenoaks, Kent, with his mother Ascension, who hailed from Spain, and his Hungarian-born father, Antal.
Boxing Day attack
In his latest book, Steps in Time: The Moments that Made Me, Du Beke opens up about a troubled relationship with his dad, who he described as a violent alcoholic. During one Boxing Day, Du Beke recalls being on the telephone with his dance instructor when his father stabbed him in the leg and stomach.
He then stumbled outside and managed to flag down a passing police vehicle. In an interview with The Times, he revealed: "The police carted him off, [but] after [the stabbing] I never laid eyes on him again."
Embarrassment and family history
Du Beke admitted he felt "embarrassed" by what happened and fabricated a story about tearing a hamstring when asked. Du Beke, who abstains from alcohol himself, explained: "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 and moving on
Du Beke's father passed away in 2001, with the dancer receiving the news via telephone. He revealed it "didn't resonate at all" and he left a note for his mother to inform her. Du Beke stated he is no longer concerned about his difficult relationship with his father nowadays, explaining: "I have to move on."
The dancer has been part of Strictly Come Dancing since the first series and joined the judging panel in series 19. He is wed to Hannah Summers, with the pair raising nine-year-old twins George and Henrietta.
