‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional Anton Du Beke has been forced to speak out on speculation he is quitting the show.
Anton and his celebrity partner Susannah Constantine were the first couple to leave this year’s competition on Sunday night, with a Daily Mail story later claiming this series would be his last.
They quoted a source as telling them he had grown to be “unhappy” with repeatedly being partnered with “joke acts or the ones who can’t dance at all”.
However, Anton has tackled the rumours head on, posting on Twitter to insist he is sticking with ‘Strictly’ - even if producers don’t invite him back.
He wrote: “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.”
A ‘Strictly’ spokesperson added: “We never comment on contractual matters but Anton will be kept very busy for the rest of the series in our group performances.”
Anton is the only remaining original professional dancer on ‘Strictly’, after co-star Brendan Cole was axed earlier this year.
He suffered his worst ever performance with Susannah this year, as on his 15 years, he had never been voted off first until now.
After their exit aired on Sunday night, Susannah was the subject of tabloid reports she had thrown a “backstage tantrum” - something she has spoken out to deny.
Posting an image of the headlines on Twitter, she wrote: “Bollocks, bollocks and more bollocks.”
A BBC spokesperson added: ”[The story] is total nonsense. Susannah was a firm favourite amongst the cast and crew and we’ll miss her lots.”
Susannah and Anton were sent packing after a dance-off against singer Lee Ryan and his professional partner Nadiya Bychkova.
The former ‘What Not To Wear Star’ said afterwards: “I know it has gone a bit quick, but you know what I just feel so lucky to have had three weeks learning to dance with Anton and to have met all these amazing people. And for me they are the most important and I feel really privileged to have met them all, and it has been amazing.”
Conceding that Lee and Nadiya were the superior couple, she added: “But Anton is still the king.”
