Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke shared an update about this year’s final during an interview on This Morning today (October 22).
Anton was on to promote his new book with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley when talk turned to Stefan Dennis’ injury and subsequent exit.
Ben asked what Stefan’s exit would mean for the competition, after concerns from Strictly fans that the 2025 final would only feature three couples.
And, as viewers continue to push for a non-elimination week so that four couples make the final, Anton has shared an update…
Complaints over three-person Strictly final
Since Stefan’s early exit, social media has been awash with pleas for producers to have a week without an elimination so that the Strictly final can feature four couples.
“Can’t they just do a non-elimination week to avoid a three-person final?” asked one. A second commented: “Damn. The universe really is insisting on this series being a three-couple final.” “A third commented: “Petition for everyone to have a bye this week so we get our four-person final.”
Another said: “If that means it’s a three-person final now, Lewis [Cope] and Amber [Davies] will take up two of those spots as the judges won’t send them home. That leaves only one spot for a non-trained dancer.”
Sadly for fans, though, it appears producers have no plans for a week without a Strictly exit…
Anton Du Beke shares update on Strictly final
Reflecting on Stefan’s exit, Ben asked Anton: “What’s the implication there then? That’s another one down.”
Anton said: “Well, I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to the producers. But I think we will probably end up with three in the final. So we will do that,” he confirmed.
He then shared: “We had a situation years ago, some people got injured and headed off, we ended up with two in the final. We had all this time to fill. It was sort of hilarious. I was dancing at the time but I wasn’t in the final. I remember they would do the dance, come up to Tess [Daly], say thanks very much, then off they go to get changed. They had around five dances each.”
Cat laughed and likened it to “a production line”.
Judges ‘really serious’ about deciding vote
Talk then turned to the dance-off changes this year, with the deciding vote responsibility being shared between the four judges.
“How are you feeling about having the responsibility? Craig [Revel Horwood] had it at the weekend but that is shifting,” said Ben. “Yes, we are all having a go,” said Anton. “I haven’t had a turn yet but I’m happy not to have a go to be quite honest with you. They might choose someone else this weekend, we don’t know. Often we all agree, but this weekend was split.
“So the interesting thing is that Craig had the final say so he saved Balvinder [Sopal] which meant she got through. But if it had been at the other end and Shirley [Ballas] or I had the vote, we would have saved Chris [Robshaw] and he would have gone through. It was literally on the person who had the final vote.”
Ben chipped in: “It’s a responsibility.” Anton concluded: “It is. But we are really serious about this, the judges. We understand what it is and how much it means. People get upset when they get voted off.”
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