A beloved Strictly Come Dancing icon has been dramatically unmasked on The Masked Singer, admitting he's 'devastated' by his exit! It turns out that the enigmatic Arctic Fox, who captivated audiences with powerful renditions of hits like Barbra Streisand's 'Woman in Love,' was none other than the charismatic Anton Du Beke. The 59-year-old dancer and television personality, a household name for his long-standing role as a judge on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, pulled off a remarkable secret by appearing on ITV's popular guessing game.
For weeks, the panel, comprised of Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Maya Jama, and Jonathan Ross, along with guest judge Perrie Edwards from Little Mix, had been racking their brains, offering their most educated guesses about Arctic Fox's true identity. After a truly crowd-pleasing performance, Anton was finally revealed, much to the surprise of many.
Speaking with host Joel Dommett right after his elimination, Anton shared his experience. "I've loved every second of it, it's been the most wonderful thing and thank you!" he exclaimed. When pressed about his feelings on being voted off, he confessed, "Devastated, naturally. Delighted to be able to perform, but devastated to have been voted off!"
But here's where it gets heartwarming: Anton, who is married to Hannah Summers and shares eight-year-old twins with her, revealed his primary motivation for joining the show. He's a massive fan and wanted to surprise his children. "Well, it's such a lovely show," he explained. "And it's been going a while, I wondered why no-one ever asked me before! They have, I just haven’t had the time. It’s a lovely show, wonderfully done, it’s a great show. And the thought of doing this and people trying to guess who you are.
"I’m just a huge fan and I know my children are loving this. I haven’t told them, I’ve been very good. I’ve done very well, I haven’t mentioned it. They said where are you going daddy and I’ve just said I’ve got rehearsal. So I haven’t told them I’m on the show. So when they see the unveiling they are going to be overwhelmed. It’s going to be brilliant!"
He added, "I’ve had such fun. It’s been brilliant fun and that’s what I’m going to take away really. I’ve loved working with the vocal coaches. I’ve loved belting out a bit of Shirley Bassey, a bit of Barbra Streisand. Tony Hadley."
Anton's departure wasn't the only surprise of the evening; it was part of a double elimination. Moments before, singer Kate Nash was revealed as Monkey Business, who had performed 'As Long As He Needs Me' from the musical Oliver! Nash shared her own feelings, stating, "I was so nervous about it but then I got really nervous about the mask coming off and how it was going to feel singing without the mask. It's like a little comfort zone, you're not worrying about anything else when you're in there. It was a unique experience, it's going to be hard to give her up."
Now, here's a thought for you: Do you think it's fair for established stars like Anton Du Beke to compete on shows like The Masked Singer, or should it be reserved strictly for those looking to break into the industry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
