Strictly’s Anton du Beke was ‘the saddest I’ve ever felt in my whole life’ when audience was axed

‘I felt the saddest I’ve ever felt in my whole life’: Strictly’s Anton du Beke admits watching the show without a studio audience wasn’t the same amid coronavirus restrictions

Anton du Beke has admitted that having no audience on Strictly Come Dancing made him the ‘saddest I’ve ever felt in my whole life’.

The show aired with no audience for the first time in its 16-year history on Saturday and Sunday due to the coronavirus lockdown, with former football player Jason Bell becoming the latest celebrity to be eliminated. 

Anton, 54, who was partnered with Jacqui Smith on this year’s series, told Steph McGovern on Steph’s Packed Lunch that the show simply wasn’t the same. 

Honest: Anton du Beke has admitted that having no audience on Strictly Come Dancing made him the ‘saddest I’ve ever felt in my whole life’

He said: ‘I felt the saddest I’ve ever felt in my whole life. Because there aren’t any studio audience of course so the only people in the audience are the couples together around a little table, socially distanced from everyone else and then me…on my own at the back, sat there going “well done everyone”.

‘It’s like saying “here you are, come – but you can’t join in.” I sat beautifully – I feel like I should have been remarked on that alone. But it was brilliant, it was a great night.’ 

Discussing this weekend’s Strictly live show, Anton revealed the celebrities he thought could go through to the final: ‘I think the two youngsters will be in the final so HRVY and Maisie [Smith] as they’ll be difficult to beat in the dance-off. 

‘Bill [Bailey] is going tremendously and Ranvir [Singh] is going tremendously and Max [George] is doing well – and he got through last week, love it or hate it. 

Change: The show aired with no audience for the first time in its 16-year history due to the coronavirus lockdown, with Jason Bell becoming the latest celebrity to be eliminated

Change: The show aired with no audience for the first time in its 16-year history due to the coronavirus lockdown, with Jason Bell becoming the latest celebrity to be eliminated

‘They are all in with a very good shot. You just don’t want that week – that Star Wars week or that pastry week as that could be the end’.

Later in the show, Steph asked Anton if he would ever go in the I’m A Celebrity jungle to which he responded: ‘No. I wouldn’t mind doing the physical challenges such as a climb up there or dive off there. 

‘But eat that or put your head in there…I can’t do spiders – my campmates would all starve!’

Saturday and Sunday’s show aired without an audience for the first time following the second lockdown which came into effect on Thursday. 

Change: Anton, 54, who was partnered with Jacqui Smith on this year's series, told Steph McGovern on Steph's Packed Lunch that the show simply wasn't the same

Change: Anton, 54, who was partnered with Jacqui Smith on this year’s series, told Steph McGovern on Steph’s Packed Lunch that the show simply wasn’t the same

The new rules are in place until Wednesday 2 December and ordered the nation to stay at home except for ‘specific purposes’.

All home visits – including in gardens – are now banned unless you are part of a support bubble.

So far, the contestants’ friends and family, as well as select chosen NHS workers, had been able to sit in the audience while wearing visors or face masks.

Issuing a statement to their official website on Tuesday night, the BBC said they were ‘sad’ over the development which saw Movie Week go ahead without an audience.

It read: ‘In light of the new lockdown measures which take effect in England from Thursday 5 November, we’re sad to announce that we won’t be able to have a live studio audience for Strictly Come Dancing during November.

Anton said: 'It's like saying "here you are, come – but you can't join in." I sat beautifully – I feel like I should have been remarked on that alone. But it was brilliant, it was a great night'

Anton said: ‘It’s like saying “here you are, come – but you can’t join in.” I sat beautifully – I feel like I should have been remarked on that alone. But it was brilliant, it was a great night’

‘Ticket holders have been notified. No tickets will be sent out for December shows until we are sure it will be safe and compliant to welcome audiences back, so please keep checking back for updates. We will continue to follow government guidelines.’

They added: ‘We understand how disappointing this will be, but we very much hope we will see some of you later in the series – and in the meantime you can continue to watch all the action from the comfort and safety of your sofa, live on Saturday nights, with extra backstage gossip every weekday evening on Strictly – It Takes Two.’

Strictly Come Dancing returns next Saturday at 7:10pm on BBC One.

Steph’s Packed Lunch airs weekdays at 12.30pm on Channel 4. 

Contenders: Anton revealed the celebrities he thought could go through to the final: 'I think the two youngsters will be in the final so HRVY and Maisie [Smith] as they'll be difficult to beat in the dance-off'

Contenders: Anton revealed the celebrities he thought could go through to the final: ‘I think the two youngsters will be in the final so HRVY and Maisie [Smith] as they’ll be difficult to beat in the dance-off’