Anton Du Beke joins Strictly Come Dancing 2021 panel in Bruno Tonioli’s place

Anton Du Beke will join the Strictly Come Dancing panel as a full-time judge this year with Bruno Tonioli unable to take part due to uncertainty over international travel restrictions as a result of Covid-19.

The professional dancer joined the judging panel during the 2020 series for a two-week stint, but will now become a permanent fixture during the 2021 series.

He said: “My loves I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno’s brogues for the next series of Strictly. It’s a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them have ever been to me.”

Du Beke joins the returning judging panel of Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas.

Following the announcement, Du Beke tweeted: “I’m so excited! Thrilled to be joining these wonderful judges.”

Tonioli is based in the US as a judge on American series Dancing With The Stars, and “will be unable to take part in the series this year”, due to the “ongoing uncertainty regarding international travel restrictions caused by Covid-19”, the BBC said.

He said: “Whilst I am gutted to not be on the show this year, there is one person and one person only that could take my place – it’s just a shame they weren’t available… haha! Darlings I’m kidding, I’m kidding!

“Seriously though, I have to tell you, Anton IS Mr Strictly and if anybody is filling in for me, it has to be him. I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way and I am so excited to see him waggle his paddle.”

Du Beke is the longest-serving professional dancer having been a fixture on the BBC One series since it began.

The BBC said further details regarding the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing would be announced in due course.