Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has opened up about a family holiday that went so badly he now opts to stay at home while his wife and children hit the slopes.
A 'Terrible' Decision on the Slopes
The 52-year-old dancer, who shares twins George and Henrietta with wife Hannah Summers, explained that while his family are accomplished skiers, he is too terrified to take part. Despite this fear, he once joined them on a winter getaway, a choice he now labels a "terrible" mistake.
Du Beke recounted the incident on the Putt and Strut podcast, describing how he was left stranded in waist-deep snow. "I went along, and I don't ski, so I just went along and it's a terrible holiday to go on if you don't ski," he admitted. "I'm so fearful of the old pins, you know."
'So Humiliating': The Walk of Shame
After his family took a ski lift back up the mountain, Anton decided to walk up a nearby incline instead. Wearing only trainer-style snow shoes, he quickly found himself in trouble.
"You can't walk in waist-deep snow in them," he said. "I got halfway up and I got a bit stuck. I was like, 'This is so embarrassing'... I looked like some bloke who got lost from somewhere else and has just wandered in."
The dancer revealed he had visions of needing a mountain rescue as skiers glided past, wondering what he was doing. "It was so humiliating. I forced myself to walk up, I was wet," he recalled. The experience was enough to convince him to stay behind during the family's subsequent ski trip in February.
From Snow to Sewing: Anton's Festive TV Return
Despite his alpine misadventure, fans can look forward to seeing Anton back on screen in a more comfortable setting. He is set to appear in The Great British Sewing Bee Christmas special on BBC One at 7.25pm.
He will be competing against:
- Comedian and Celebrity Traitors star Lucy Beaumont.
- Actress Susan Wokoma.
- Tom Wilson (Hammer from Gladiators).
The festive challenges will include putting a unique spin on Santa's sack and transforming second-hand party wear into outfits inspired by The Twelve Days of Christmas. Du Beke shared his excitement on social media, writing: "I'm thrilled to share that I'll be joining Sophie, Patrick, and Esme... Let's get creative."
