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.
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!
