Uncategorized

One Enchanted Evening – Out Today!

My loves,

I’m thrilled, excited, and incredibly proud to announce that my debut novel ‘One Enchanted Evening’ is out today!

I’d like to share with you a fabulous teaser trailer video prepared by my publishers, with a voice-over extract of the novel read by yours truly!

Signed copies of my book are still available to purchase through WHSmith, and other formats are available too – see the links below – and do peruse other readers’ reviews on the Amazon and Waterstones links! {Signed copies have now sold out, but you can still join me on my book signing tour if you’d like your copy signing!}
 

Out now!… Click to buy:

 
{…And see here for news of the Audiobook – with a free 5 minute excerpt, too!}
 

Don’t forget, there are two book signing events this coming Sunday, 7th October – in Monmouth and Bath – and then the 14th October in Kingston and Guildford. Keep an eye on my blog and social media for news of additional dates, too.

I do so hope you enjoy reading my novel – please let me know via Facebook or Twitter – I’d love to hear from you!

Week 2 – The Foxtrot… and AntonDuBekxit!

After the lows, and low scores of our week 1 samba, I was a firm believer that the only way was up from our position at the bottom of the leaderboard. Oh how wrong I was! Read on to find out more about our untimely departure, #AntonDuBekxit, and what’s in store for the coming months!

Week 2 was our week to shine after our disappointing dance debut, and we felt sure our classy slow Foxtrot would be a winner with the judges this week. Didn’t we look the part, too – dressed to the nines as we stepped out from underneath the arbour, Dave Arch’s flaring trumpets giving us our cue – what a stylish entrance for our comeback performance.

As we took to the floor, we went straight into a little side-by-side section to get us us into the swing of the dance, and we were off!

All felt good and right, and things went reasonably well, until I think the nerves crept in and, well, the steps all seemed to be there alright, just not quite in the right order! There may have been a slight footwork fracas in the far corner as we negotiated a turn, but we got ourselves back on track and brought the routine to a graceful close on time, in the right place, and with great aplomb! Beautifully done!

A fine Foxtrot Susannah and @TheAntonDuBeke. The Judges can't take that away from you. 🎩 #Strictly pic.twitter.com/LdNvkUufQP

— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) 29 September 2018

Such wonderful music to have the opportunity to dance to, that Ol’ Blue Eyes number “They Can’t Take That Away” – emotively performed by the Strictly band – and to dance a proper ballroom number too, what a treat!

The treat was short-lived however as we braced ourselves for the judges’ comments. I’m afraid Craig didn’t find anything more positive than last week – “even the smoke sadly couldn’t hide that dance disaster,” he chimed, to which Darcey gave him a slap on the wrist. She was more positive but did recognise Susannah’s fleeting lapses in concentration (which she herself admits), but noted that she kept her smile throughout. Shirley said there was definitely an improvement over last week, which was news very gratefully received. Bruno, however, said I could have got better movement out of a lamppost. The crowd quite rightly erupted with boos!

I was enormously proud, and so pleased that Susannah said she enjoyed the dance – ultimately, that’s the most important thing – if you don’t enjoy doing something you’re never going to improve at it – and that’s one very good reason why constructive criticism is so important for our novice dancers.

View this post on Instagram

@susannahconstantine and @theantondubeke are happy to have matched their Week One score 👍 #Strictly

A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) on Sep 29, 2018 at 11:38am PDT

The scores, I’ll admit, came as a surprise. Given our 12 points from last week, I had every expection of improving on both score, and position, this week. “The only way is up,” I believe I wrote in my last blog post. I hadn’t factored on staying firmly put where we were!

Even though Tess had broken his ‘1’ paddle, Craig must have commandeered a spare during our number, as that was all he gave us. Darcey and Shirley both gave us 4s, and Bruno a 3. Lo and behold: 12 points. Again. Bottom of the leaderboard… Again!

Oh dear, we both knew we were in trouble, but saw opportunity in being able to perform again and nail it in the inevitable dance-off.

Sunday night came, and as we suspected, we were bathed in that terrifying red light. Mind you, they’d kept us waiting until the very end to find out – it felt like an eternity – but when it was finally between us and Kate & Aljaz, we knew if was going to be us. And in fact, with Lee and Nadiya already pegged for the dance off, we had a good idea where this was all heading.

Oh no! Susannah and Anton will also be dancing for their place in the competition, while @katesilverton1 and @AljazSkorjanec are safe #Strictly pic.twitter.com/LfxWMBQRl2

— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) 30 September 2018

Susannah said to Tess that she thought she was improving, but that she’d feel bad if another couple were in our place – to which I begged to differ, but that’s the competitive dancer in me!

When asked for some last minute advice, Craig suddenly mellowed (or had a moment of madness!) and gave Susannah quite a marvellous pep talk for which I was most grateful. All that was left was for us to take to the floor and dance as though it would be our last. Without the same pressure and nerves, the celebrities can often perform so much better and thow themselves fully into the dance. And that’s just what Susannah did. We weren’t going out without a fight!

I thought she danced marvellously and I couldn’t have been more proud… but alas, t’was not to be: worthy rivals Lee & Nadiya won the judges votes and the last ticket through to Strictly Movie Week.

"It's been all too brief" 💔 It really has. RT to give Susannah and Anton a big #Strictly goodbye! ✨ pic.twitter.com/Bct5ukMc9u

— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) 30 September 2018

All too brief, all too brief, my loves. Huge congratulations to all the other couples for making it through, but huge commiserations for Susannah, and for her Strictly experience to have been cut so short. We’ve had such a wonderful three weeks in training, we clicked instantly and were completely on the same wavelength – so our time together in the studio hardly felt like work at all, even though we did work tirelessly. Perhaps different dances would have enabled her to build up more confidence in the performances, I’m sure luck of the draw plays a crucial part in the early rounds. And I know Susannah was looking forward to our Movie Week Charleston – now that would have been definitely worth more than a 12! Ah, we’d barely just begun!

It's the first time Anton's bowed out in Week Two, but his time with Susannah has been fab-u-lous 👏 #Strictly pic.twitter.com/JKeMEEdJsH

— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) 30 September 2018

Well my loves, this brings us to the fact that this series has resulted in my earliest Strictly exit – a disappointment, yes indeed, as it would be for any competitor, but we both have had a truly wonderful time training, rehearsing, dancing – and laughing together. I shall certainly miss our partnership, and I very much hope Susannah has caught the dancing bug and will continue to build on the fabulous progress she’s already made.

As the news of our exit broke across the tabloids earlier this week, so too did quite a number of ‘fake news’ stories, too. It was widely reported that I was quitting Strictly. What rubbish! I even had to make a public announcement to that effect, which Gabby Logan turned into a bit of ‘a thing’ on twitter: “Anton Du Bekxit”. I roared, you can imagine!

My loves, some people are reporting I'm quitting the show. Absolute rubbish! I'm NEVER quitting. Whether they want me or not, I'm never going! 😄 Love you all and love @bbcstrictly! #BBCstrictly

— Anton Du Beke (@TheAntonDuBeke) 1 October 2018

We need some calm and stability in these difficult times. So glad Bekxit isn’t happening. https://t.co/F3dxmZMXX3

— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) October 1, 2018

Believe you me, I’ll be back every year whether they want me or not… and one day I’ll make it all the way to the Grand Final and lift that Glitterball aloft! The king of ballroom has spoken!

And so, my loves, I’ll sign off here. I’ll of course be back for the Pro Dances throughout the rest of the series, so look out for me in those.

Meanwhile, it’s all go this week as my debut novel is released TOMORROW! You can find out more about that, and how to order a signed copy here on my blog. Do keep a watch on social media too as there’ll be more announcements to come, including additional dates on my book tour!

And don’t forget, I’ll be heading off on tour with Erin next January with our new show “Dance Those Magical Musicals” – full details, dates and booking links can be found here: antonanderinlive.co.uk – Erin and I hope to see you in the audience!

Until then my loves, keeeeep dancing!

Week 1 – The Samba

I couldn’t possibly have imagined a more flamboyant start to Strictly 2018 for Susannah and me… You might have thought we had an inkling when we heard the producers’ choice of music for our inaugural routine… but it certainly took on a life of its own when the choreography was combined with the costumes! This fruity samba to Carmen Miranda’s Tico Tico was always destined to be a memorable number — but unfortunately it wasn’t the only memorable number for us on the night!…

I shan’t reveal whose idea it was for me to make my entrance from secret doors in my partner’s skirt, but it was clearly inspired. I’ve never known anything like it! Another first for Strictly – as indeed, was dancing a Samba in week 1.

PEAK ANTON #Strictly pic.twitter.com/Hj4F2QK3UC

— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 22, 2018

To tackle the samba as an introduction to Strictly is undoubtedly a baptism of fire. Just when your partner starts to believe they have some mastery over the steps and a feel for the performance, it can all be undone by nerves and the pressure of delivering such a fast, high-energy dance. It’s understandable, as I’m sure you’ll agree, that nerves may have got the better of Susannah at times in terms of recalling the steps, but those very same nerves have surely now been steeled by the experience.

I happen to think Susannah did tremendously well for a complete novice and a debut dance like that. She delivered a good number of basic steps – at speed, too: whisks, voltas, the corta jaca, promenade runs; and whilst of course there’s room for improvement, this was week 1 – it was all about her finding her feet and getting a performance under her belt.

Did you spot the stray maracas on the dance floor throughout (ah, the joy of props!) – it was a bit like dodging giant marbles at times, so how that didn’t put us both off I don’t know! I’m not sure I could actually see my feet or the floor for that matter will all those leg frills!

Hats off to Susannah though for getting through the dance in grand style – and reaching the floorspin finale on time too – no mean feat. For me, it’s a clear indication of her determination, her enthusiasm and her ability – I’m also mightily encouraged by the fact she’s proving to be a rather good mover!

Of course, the judges took a direct line with their critique… though I’m pleased to say Darcey and Shirley both saw not just the entertainment value, but also the potential in Susannah – hurrah – “A dancer trying to come out,” said Shirley – quite right! She also made mention of the technical content too – and the speed at which it was delivered; I was pleased for Susannah to hear these things referenced, credit where credit’s due.

More deflatingly, Bruno coined the routine ‘Car Crash Miranda’ not Carmen Miranda, and Craig said the best part was the floorwork at the end (or rather, words to that effect!).

Duly, when the scores were announced, we knew where we stood. A ‘1’ from Craig. Boos and jeers erupted from the audience, and I must admit we were taken aback by such a low score. My goodness, I haven’t scored a 1 since Nancy Dell’Olio (our week 1 waltz scored 12 points again with a 1 from Craig). Susannah was pragmatic and said it could have been worse if we’d received a 1 from each judge, but at least the 3 from Shirley and 4s from Darcey and Bruno bolstered us to a round dozen. It placed us bottom of the leaderboard though… obviously not the soaring start we were hoping for, but looking on the positive side, the only way is up!

Awarded just one from Craig! #Strictly pic.twitter.com/F5OfxKsLSR

— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) September 22, 2018

View this post on Instagram

@mrantondubeke thinks @susannahconstantine danced an amazing, fruity Samba! 🍍

A post shared by BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) on Sep 22, 2018 at 11:26am PDT

With training almost complete for our Week 2 Foxtrot to that Sinatra classic ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’, we’re on a roll, just you wait and see! Tune in to BBC1 at 6:30pm on Saturday and watch us make a comeback! Don’t forget, the voting opens this weekend too, so we’ll be counting on your votes to help us through to week 3!

…Your support, my loves, is always appreciated!

Meanwhile, there’s still time to be in with a chance of receiving a beautiful printed sample chapter from my upcoming novel, ‘One Enchanted Evening’. Head over to Facebook and comment and share this post to enter the random draw. There are 50 sample chapters to give away! Deadline is midnight tonight though, so be quick!

Until the weekend!
Much love,