Anton Du Beke interview: Strictly star on Bruce Forsyth, his debut album and more
17 November 2017, 09:31 | Updated: 24 November 2017, 12:26
Dance icon Anton Du Beke came into Smooth Radio to talk about his debut album 'From The Top', which includes his own take on classics such as 'Putting on the Ritz' and 'Fly Me To The Moon'.
From baking bread to boxing and ballroom dancing, Strictly star Anton Du Beke has done it all! Not one to turn down a challenge, Anton is now releasing his much-anticipated debut album From The Top.
From The Top will feature the classic songs which have inspired Anton throughout his illustrious 30-year career, as well as an original composition 'Nothing But Love' and an inspired reworking of the Arctic Monkeys hit 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor'.
The album is a joyful celebration of pure old school swing, delivered in inimitable, impeccable Anton style - where only the absolute best will do for his fans.
“He was my hero and a great friend.”
From The Top is a tribute to both his close friend, the late Bruce Forsyth and his beloved wife Hannah:
“Bruce was always a huge hero of mine and I was lucky enough to call him a friend. We’d play golf, we’d have a laugh and we both loved all the old stars like Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis Jnr. He was so supportive. When I did a tiny show at the Hippodrome in London, he did me the greatest honour by coming down and singing with me.”
“And the song on the album I had to sing for my wife is More (the theme from Mondo Cane). It’s our song because she has brought me more happiness, more joy, more confidence and more of everything wonderful with our beautiful twins than I ever thought possible.”
“All these songs are hugely emotional to me,” says Anton. “Music and dance has been my world since the age of fourteen. I was dancing ballroom before Strictly was even a ghost of an idea. I had to be in work at 3am in a bakery and I would finish work and go straight to dance practice.
"I had holes in my shoes and absolutely no money but I’d stand in my one suit and a band would play one of these great classic songs and all my troubles would melt away and I would be in heaven.”
“'I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor' – I thought, ‘well, I’ve got to do that’”
“I’ve been singing for almost as long as I’ve been dancing," says Anton. "I’ve sung at my dance shows and I’ve sung on Strictly but I never believed I would finally get the chance to make an album."
“The more you can do it in front of an audience, the better you’ll get.”
(Anton later admitted he used to sing in the shower and record himself!)
From The Top sees Anton backed by the successful vocal harmony quintet The Overtones and Lance Ellington from the Strictly Come Dancing band. From The Top will be released on November 24, 2017. Pre-order your copy here!
