ANTON DU BEKE is used to giving out tens on Strictly – but what he wants most of all is a No1.
After the latest BBC One series ends, the dance competition’s judge will record a new album, which is a long-awaited follow-up to his debut release six years ago.
He will be teaming up again with Grammy-award winning producer Brian Rawlings to lay down some new tracks that his fans are sure to lap up.
Anton said: “What I am going to do at the beginning of next year is . . . I’m going to get into the studio with some of the guys from the band and we’re going to do a ‘sessions album,’ we’re going to give it a sessions feel.
“You don’t put CDs out any more so we’ll put it out for download. It will be fun and we’ll film it.”
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Anton considers himself a bit of a crooner and during tours with fellow Strictly dancer Giovanni Pernice, Anton has form for belting out a swing classic.
He has even recorded festive songs, which may follow the release of his second album in time for Christmas next year.
On the Power Of Joy podcast, Anton explained: “A few years ago, we started to put together a Christmas album, but realised we had no time to promote and tour the album because I can’t do anything when I’m doing Strictly.
“So we put it to one side and we thought we’ll revisit that when we’ve got a bit more time.”
Anton’s not the first Strictly judge to record tunes.
Bruno Tonioli, who he replaced on the panel, planned to release a disco album after singing Can’t Take My Eyes Off You on the 2019 series.
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JULIA HAS WALK AIM
JULIA BRADBURY is tomorrow launching a campaign called Get Britain Walking on This Morning.
Viewers of the ITV show will see her explore some of the 50 acres of Hestercombe House in Somerset.
Julia, who has had breast cancer, said: “I absolutely love walking and I make sure come rain or shine I walk somewhere everyday. I’m calling on each and every one of you to get Britain walking.”
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“Walking is my friend, my therapist and my outdoor gym through good times and through tougher times.
“So I hope this series leads viewers down the path to healing and health through nature and walking too.”
FILMING will begin soon on the final BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's series of Wolf Hall novels.
Called Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light, it is being screened on BBC One and is based on the late writer’s trilogy that was first brought to TV in 2015 and starred Mark Rylance.
RON PAL’S KIND ART
SNOOKER legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has opened up about his unlikely friendship with artist Damien Hirst.
The Rocket, who on Thursday is releasing a Prime Video documentary about his life, describes him as “the funniest man I know” and says he perks him up when feeling low.
Ronnie said: “When I’m struggling, Damien’s the only one who says it doesn’t matter and we’ll still have dinner. It’s one of the best friendships of my life.”
The snooker champ also credits his love of running for keeping his mental health in check, after getting into it following a stint in rehab for booze and drugs addiction.
He told Radio Times: “It suits my addictive nature.”
ROMESH SCHOOL RACISM
ROMESH RANGANATHAN has revealed he was racially abused at private school.
The Weakest Link host said: “My parents had come from Sri Lanka and they were obsessed with me going to private school.
“I didn’t enjoy my time there. Without getting too dark, I was racially abused. So, I wasn’t that bothered about leaving.
“I went to a state school, had a great time and went on to teach at that same school, which is where I met my wife.”
Romesh, who took over from Anne Robinson when The Weakest Link was rebooted by the BBC in 2021, admits fronting this type of series was never an ambition of his.
He told Radio Times: “I was genuinely surprised when I got that call.
“But the truth is, the quiz is bulletproof. As long as I can read out loud, I’ll do all right.”
He’s doing a decent job.
NETFLIX will be dropping Ricky Gervais: Armageddon on Christmas Day.
The comic’s latest stand-up show was recorded at The London Palladium earlier this year.
Ricky said: “For the next 2,000 years, people will remember December 25 as the day ‘Armageddon’ was released on Netflix.”
EL’S NEXT STEP SO MODERN
ELEANOR TOMLINSON says she and new co-star Sam Heughan are embracing more modern roles after stepping out of period dramas.
The pair, famous for their respective parts in Poldark and Outlander, feature in Channel 4 drama The Couple Next Door, playing neighbours who fall for each other after Eleanor’s schoolteacher character Evie moves in.
Eleanor described the thriller as “very sexy”, and added: “It was a chance to break out of the mould we’re most known for.
“It’s modern and it was a challenging leading role. Sam is now one of my best friends.
"Every day was a joy and creating Danny and Evie’s complicated and dangerous relationship was a lot of fun.”
The series starts next Monday.
PATSY IN PARADISE
PATSY KENSIT has swapped Walford for the Caribbean for her latest role.
Here is the former EastEnder on location in BBC One crime drama Death In Paradise, where she will be appearing in the upcoming Christmas special alongside Ralf Little, who is back as DI Neville Parker.
Patsy plays Bella, whose husband Gerry Stableforth (Geoff Bell) is found dead in a ravine on the island of Saint Marie, sparking Neville and his team to investigate the mysterious death
During filming in May, Patsy wrote her own love message in the sand, presumably aimed at fiancé Patric Cassidy, who she broke up with in July following a whirlwind romance.
