Anton du Beke talks being overlooked to dance with 25-year-old lingerie models in Strictly

Anton came closest to lifting the Glitterball in his very first series, when Lesley Garrett reached the final.

This also happened two years ago, when he also performed in the finale with Emma Barton.

He and Laila Rouass came in fourth place, and the same happened alongside Katie Derham.

His other partners have been, in chronological order, Esther Rantzen, Patsy Palmer, Jan Ravens, Kate Garraway, Gillian Taylforth, Ann Widdecombe, Nancy Dell’Olio, Jerry Hall, Fiona Fullerton, Judy Murray, Lesley Joseph, Ruth Langsford, Susannah Constantine and Jacqui Smith last year.

source: express.co.uk