Anton Du Beke shares top Strictly tip with contestants ahead of new series

Anton Du Beke has advised this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants to “love every second” because they don’t want any regrets.

The TV star – who used to be a pro dancer on the BBC ballroom show – is back as a judge for the upcoming series, alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas.

Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine, he said that his best advice to the new crop – which includes Angela Rippon, Les Dennis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy – was to “embrace it and take it all on”.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Official line up, dancers and judges for new series

“Love every second of it,” he said.

“Even when it’s really hard and your feet hurt and your brain is exploding and you might have had a bad weekend, it’s fine because Monday morning it will all be starting again.

“Because it will be over in a flash and you don’t want any thoughts of, ‘Oh I wish I did that’.”

“It is a once in a lifetime thing and it is the most wonderful experience,” he added.

Du Beke shared that the launch show, which is pre-recorded, has already been filmed.

And he said he felt that “everything is OK in the world” now that the show is heading back to television screens.

“It’s so brilliant, it’s incredible, the celebrities are brilliant, and the coupling is amazing,” he teased.

The contestants this year include Nigel Harman, Eddie Kadi, Nikita Kanda, Jody Cundy, Amanda Abbington, Adam Thomas, Layton Williams, Annabel Croft, Bobby Brazier, Ellie Leach, Zara McDermott, Angela Scanlon.

Read more: All the winners and finalists of Strictly

Strictly will return for its 21st series on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September, with the live shows beginning on Saturday 23 September.

Watch: Anton Du Beke pays a tearful tribute to Len Goodman