Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has spoken about his wife Hannah Summers' painful struggle with endometriosis, describing the diagnosis as 'cruel' and detailing its impact on their path to parenthood.
Anton and Hannah's Journey to Parenthood
The BBC star married marketing executive Hannah Summers in 2017 after meeting at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey in 2012. The couple welcomed twins George and Henrietta shortly after their wedding, following successful IVF treatment.
Appearing on Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Anton revealed that Hannah had serious reservations about starting a family due to endometriosis, a debilitating condition affecting the reproductive system.
'I Couldn't Understand the Universe'
The professional dancer, who turned 60 on Monday, July 20, admitted his confusion after watching Hannah interact with her nephews. 'I knew I wanted to be with her, I saw her with her nephews. She's so kind and so caring, I just couldn't understand the universe,' he said, as reported by Lancs Live and Wales Online.
Anton expressed his frustration with the situation, saying: 'And whoever is upstairs, if anyone's upstairs, looking down and going "you are the most perfect person to have children, but I'm not going to let you have any children because I'm going to give you this". And I'm going to say "you're going to have this endometriosis, and you're going to suffer with this all of your life, chronically, and I'm not going to let you have any children."' He called the diagnosis 'peculiar, cruel, and inexplicable and unforgivable'.
IVF Success and Strengthened Bond
The couple were fortunate as IVF treatment proved successful on their first attempt, leading to the birth of their twins in 2017. They tied the knot later that same year. Anton has openly discussed the challenges they faced during the IVF process, which ultimately strengthened their bond.
During his conversation with Giovanna, Anton admitted his previous lack of understanding about endometriosis and stressed the need for greater government investment in women's health.
Reflecting on the IVF Experience
Looking back on their experience, Anton said: 'Then we went through the process of IVF, well crying out loud. You girls are extraordinary. As much as I want to get involved, all I can do is hold your hand. It makes me emotional every time I talk about it. The injections, the stress, the anxiety. I have anxiety and stress but it's not my body.'
He described the physical toll on Hannah: 'She has these injections and the bruises in the bum, in the thigh, in the stomach. And you're trying to help but what can you do? Whatever you want, tell me and I'll do it but that's all you have and it's horrendous as a man to watch it.' Anton concluded: 'You feel so inadequate and you want to do so much more but I can't do anything. And that's why you girls are so extraordinary, you're extraordinary that you do all this stuff.'
