Strictly's Anton Du Beke reveals traumatic childhood where he was stabbed by his dad

Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke once opened up about a traumatic incident from his childhood, revealing that he was once stabbed by his father during a violent altercation.

The 57-year-old dancer and television personality spoke about the Boxing Day fight at his family home in Kent which left him hospitalised for several days during an appearance on Kate Garraway’s Life Stories.

He told previously told GMB star Kate: "I got stabbed in the leg and in the stomach because of a fight on Boxing Day and it was an idiotic situation. I remember walking out of the house to walk up to the hospital holding my leg and a police car drove past and I waved them down and I said 'he's in there with a knife'."It comes after Jeremy Vine reveals what will happen if Joey Barton fails to pay staggering legal bill.

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He continued: "Anyway, they carted him off and I ended up in hospital for three or four days. My only concern was getting back into the studio and dancing and the embarrassment of it."

Du Beke, who was born Tony Beke, grew up on a council estate in Sevenoaks with his Spanish mother and Hungarian father. He explained that his relationship with his father became increasingly strained as he struggled with alcoholism, and Anton became the target of his father’s aggression.

He shared: "You've got an alcoholic father and a situation where if you're in the house, [he's] drinking then you end up with the fights and stuff. You'd move room to get away from all of it and then he follows you in and the next thing you know the violence starts and then it came to a head one evening, I ended up in hospital for three days."

Du Beke kept the ordeal a secret from family and friends for many years, telling people he "pulled a hamstring" to cover up his injuries. He added: "I'm a forward looker... I don't like to look back, I like to look forward. I can't really believe I'm talking to you about this. I should've glossed over this."

Garraway noted that Du Beke’s father was ultimately cleared in court of wounding his son. When his father passed away, Du Beke chose not to attend the funeral, saying: "Everything was about moving forwards. I felt sorry for my mum, this was her husband, she's working two jobs and he chose to drink and be violent. It's just life and you carry on."

After the difficult incident, Du Beke decided to reinvent himself. He admitted: "I wanted a new start and a new beginning and I wanted to leave what went before, behind. I just wanted to be me."

Du Beke was the longest-serving professional on Strictly Come Dancing before becoming a judge in 2021. Over the years, he has partnered with celebrities including Emma Barton, Ann Widdecombe, and Jacqui Smith.

The Strictly star went on to insist that his ambition to succeed was never inspired by his difficult past, adding: "I never did anything I did because of him. My motivation to do what I did was not because of that. I hate woe is me."

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