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Strictly's Anton du Beke talks 'awkward' night following Motsi Mabuse's return as judge

Anton du Beke replaced Motsi as a stand-in judge while she was away 


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Emmy Griffiths
TV & Film Editor
On 30 November 2020
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Anton du Beke has opened up about returning as an audience member of Strictly Come Dancing, joking that it was awkward. 

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Chatting to Steph McGovern when she asked him about what Strictly was like during Steph's Packed Lunch on Monday, he joked: "A little awkward, I’ll be honest with you."

WATCH: Anton talks Motsi's return to Strictly Come Dancing

He added: "No, it was marvellous… They’re in a place now on the show where everyone’s dancing wonderfully. There’s not enough distance between the top and the bottom of the leader board, so nobody’s safe. It’s a really brilliant series, everybody’s been tremendous for a number of weeks. Everyone’s dancing really really well." 

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The professional dancer also opened up about Craig Revel Horwood's jibe about how he was back in the "cheap seats", saying: "He got more boos, the vox populi, you see, of the audience were booing him!"

Craig teased Anton after he heard him booing his comments following Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse's dance, saying: "Sorry Anton but you’re no longer up here."

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Anton joked about Craig's dig on Saturday night

So is Anton missing being a judge? He said: "I never gave it any thought, because I was only going to be there for a couple of weeks anyway… I was just there to clap, ‘Well done, you’re all marvellous, I’d have given you a ten, I don’t know about him, I don’t know what’s wrong with him, I’d have given you a ten!’ It was lovely to be there and great to see."

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

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