Strictly Come Dancing legend Anton Du Beke has melted hearts across the nation by sharing an utterly charming video capturing his young twins' priceless reaction to his dramatic unmasking on ITV's The Masked Singer. The 59-year-old entertainer, who had been secretly performing as the Arctic Fox for weeks, finally revealed his identity during Saturday night's show, leaving his family completely astonished.
The Big Reveal That Left His Children Speechless
Bound by a strict confidentiality agreement with ITV, Du Beke had maintained complete secrecy about his participation in the popular guessing game show. The professional dancer honoured his promise not to disclose his masked identity to anyone, including his own family. This made the moment of revelation all the more spectacular when his seven-year-old twins, Henrietta and George, watched their famous father remove the elaborate Arctic Fox costume on television.
In the delightful home video shared by Du Beke on Instagram, the children can be seen perched on their sofa, completely engrossed in the television broadcast. As the dramatic unmasking unfolded, their excitement became palpable. Chanting "Take it off" alongside the studio audience, the twins erupted into squeals of disbelief when the mask finally came off to reveal their father's familiar face.
A Moment of Pure Family Joy
The footage captures George and Henrietta leaping from the sofa in sheer astonishment, with Henrietta repeatedly exclaiming, "How is that Daddy?!" in a moment of genuine childhood wonder. The Strictly star accompanied the heartwarming clip with a touching caption expressing how difficult it had been to keep the secret from his beloved children.
"Oh my darlings! How I wish I could have shared this sooner," Du Beke wrote emotionally. "What an absolute joy it was to be part of this year's The Masked Singer alongside my loves @mewossy @davinamccall @mothecomedian @mayajama @joeldommett. Keeping it all a secret from them was NOT easy, let me tell you, but Henrietta and George's reaction made every hushed rehearsal and secret song completely worth it."
Celebrity Friends and Fellow Judges React
The wholesome family moment quickly garnered attention from Du Beke's famous friends and colleagues. His Strictly Come Dancing co-star Karen Hauer responded with heartfelt affection, while the show's judging panel - including Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Maya Jama and Jonathan Ross - had all been trying to guess the Arctic Fox's identity throughout the competition.
Guest panellist Perrie Edwards from Little Mix also participated in the guessing game, with all judges listening intently to Du Beke's rousing rendition of Barbra Streisand's classic "Woman in Love" during his final performance. Despite his eventual elimination from the competition, the veteran entertainer expressed nothing but joy about his experience on the programme.
Why Anton Du Beke Joined The Masked Singer
Speaking to host Joel Dommett immediately after his unmasking, Du Beke revealed his genuine affection for the show and his primary motivation for participating. "I've loved every second of it, it's been the most wonderful thing so thank you!" he exclaimed, before adding with characteristic humour about his elimination: "Devastated naturally. Delighted to be able to perform but devastated to have been voted off!"
The dancer went on to explain that he's been a huge fan of The Masked Singer for years and had specifically wanted to create a magical surprise for his children. "Well it's such a lovely show. And it's been going a while, I wondered why no-one ever asked me before!" he joked. "They have, I just haven't had the time. It's a lovely show, wonderfully done, it's a great show. And the thought of doing this and people trying to guess who you are."
Du Beke elaborated on the careful deception he maintained at home, telling his curious children simply that he was attending rehearsals whenever they asked about his whereabouts. "I haven't told them I'm on the show. So when they see the unveiling they are going to be overwhelmed. It's going to be brilliant!" he predicted - a forecast that proved absolutely accurate when watching his twins' ecstatic reaction.
The charming episode highlights not only the entertainment value of Saturday night television but also the beautiful family moments that can emerge from celebrity participation in such programmes. For Anton Du Beke, the memory of his children's astonished faces will undoubtedly remain more precious than any competition victory could ever be.
