Gratitude, sadness, resignation: everyone approaches the process of ageing differently. But for Anton Du Beke, former professional dancer and Strictly Come Dancing stalwart, and still with a twinkle in his eye, it is an experience he would happily do without. “I’d rather it didn’t happen, thanks very much. If we can find a way of reversing the process, I’d be first in the queue.
“Get yourself some young children – that’ll keep you young,” he says, referring to his seven-year-old twins. “You won’t be sitting on the sofa if you have two of them. Having children is the best anti-ageing tonic there is.
“That, and a couple of puppies,” he adds, referencing the two fox-red Labrador puppies that joined the family in 2024 – “and then you’ll never sleep.”
The effervescent ballroom and Latin dancer’s life has gone from strength to strength since he turned 50 in 2016. At 51, he became a father for the first time to twins Henrietta and George. And having been involved with the BBC dance behemoth since its inception in 2004, he moved from the dancefloor to the judge’s bench permanently in 2021. He has also found time to write more than 10 books and host and appear on a variety of television shows. Now, though, he is devoting more time to a passion that might come as a surprise: golf.
With an admirable handicap of one, Du Beke is no newcomer to the sport. “I was introduced to it by a gentleman at my old dancing school that I used to go to as a young man,” he recalls. “I just remember having this instant love affair with the game – and I’ve loved it ever since.”
Now, he has paired up with his friend, fellow golfer and Sky Sports presenter Sarah Stirk to launch a podcast, called Putt and Strut.
Focusing on the lighter side of golf – “We’re not focusing on swings and technique and that kind of thing” – the series welcomes a host of celebrity guests, including actor James Nesbitt, tennis coach Judy Murray, model and racing car driver Jodie Kidd and professional golfer Colin Montgomerie, to chew the fat about everything on the greens and beyond.
As well as having a platform to rhapsodise about his affection for the sport, the dancer also has a nobler aim: encouraging more people to pick up a set of clubs themselves.
“I’m very keen on opening up the game and making it more accessible to everyone, particularly ladies and families,” he says. “It can feel a bit intimidating going to what is traditionally perceived as a male-dominated sport and arena. As friendly as they try to make it, it just feels like there are a lot of men. We want to make it more fun and affordable.”
In addition to it being a social sport that is good for physical and mental wellbeing, Du Beke found love on the links, meeting his wife, Hannah, at a golf dinner – though she herself had never swung a club in anger.
“I’ve since introduced her to golf,” he reveals. “That’s the good thing about the game: you can play together, regardless of your level of experience. It’s not like tennis or other sports when you need to be evenly matched. With golf, you can play your own game, your own ball and with a handicap system.
“So although I’ve been playing all my life and Hannah’s only been playing for five minutes, we can still play against each other, and that’s lovely. And the children are starting to play as well, so I’m looking forward to us all being on a golf buggy in Spain or somewhere hot playing golf. That’s the dream.”
While Tiger Woods – “the number one guy” – is his dream partner to tee off with, his fantasy dance partner is more surprising. “Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Ginger Rogers… all would be wonderful,” he says. “But [the retired prima ballerina] Darcey Bussell” – who herself has spent time on the Strictly judging panel – “is the one living person I’ve always wanted to dance with, but never have,” he muses. “We’re not as bendy as we once were, so maybe we’d do something a bit more sedate.”
Despite his multi-hyphenate career, is there anything this doyen of the dancefloor would still like to tick off his professional wish list?
“Well, I’m very lucky – I love what I do,” he begins. “But I haven’t acted in anything. Now, I know all the actors out there are going to go ‘Oh, Christ – Johnny-come-lately thinks he can just turn up and do a bit of acting.’ But I don’t just want to turn up – I’d like to learn the skill of acting. I’d like to study it and do it properly. Apparently, the new Bond is up for grabs…”
A 007 with footwork sharp enough to slice through steel, a killer swing and a penchant for a nice tux? A worthier successor to Daniel Craig it will be hard to find…
‘Putt and Strut’ is available on Global Player and all major podcast platforms
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