'WE'RE LIKE ANT AND DEC, ONLY DANCING'

When: Thursday, March 7, 3pm and 7.30pm

Where: Hull New theatre, Kingston Square, Hull

Tickets: From £32.50 to £42.50

To book: 01482 300300

Visit: www.antondubeke.co.uk

Roots: Anthony Paul Beke was born in Sevenoaks, Kent, to a Hungarian father, Antal Xavier Beke, and a Spanish mother, Ascensión, in 1966.

First steps: He left school at 16 to follow an amateur dancing career. At 17 he decided to specialise in ballroom.

Partner: Anton has been dancing with Auckland-born Erin Boag for 17 years.

Dog: He appeared on the BBC reality programme The Underdog Show, in which he was paired with a homeless dog called Ginger. They were eliminated in week three of the competition.

Rump: Not just a pretty face, Anton won the Rear Of The Year award in 2011.

He's the king of the ballroom whose fleet feet have enchanted a dancing-obsessed nation. Ian Midgley meets Anton Du Beke as he prepares to bring a touch of Hollywood to Hull

A nton Du Beke might be one of those flighty, fancy, sequin-wearing, twinkle-toed dancers from Strictly Come Dancing, but at the end of the day, he's still a bloke.

And blokes hate shopping – no matter how much eyeliner they own.

So, when the housewife's favourite fox-trotter finds himself standing outside Harrods, three days before Christmas, there's a dead weight of dread in his stomach.

"There's nothing like leaving it to the last minute, is there?" says the 46-year-old, laughing.

"I'm going in to do all my Christmas shopping in one go now. I really hate shopping. And I know, Harrods, sounds posh doesn't it?

"But I just need a place where everything is all under one roof so I can get it over with.

"I've been so busy with Strictly and the tour that I haven't really had time to think about Christmas presents yet."

Hopefully, he managed to buy Erin Boag, his professional dancing partner of 17 years, something nice, otherwise the next three months could be quite uncomfortable as the duo waltz their way around the UK on their latest dancing tour.

Their fifth tour together, Anton And Erin Go To Hollywood, will see the self-proclaimed "king and queen of the ballroom" putting their considerable dance floor finesse to good use, performing to songs from the golden era of the silver-screen musical.

Backed by a 25-piece orchestra and promising "sassy tunes, sensational choreography and sparkling costumes", the show arrives at Hull New Theatre for two performances (matinee and evening) on Thursday, March 7.

"It's our fifth national tour, so we're pretty much in the groove now," says the charismatic Kent-raised performer, who started dancing at the tender age of 14.

"I don't know why Erin and I work so well together. We've always just been really comfortable dancing together.

"We try not to analyse it too much, but sometimes people just look right together. you know, like Ant and Dec. That's it. We're like Ant and Dec, only dancing."

"When we were thinking of ideas for the show, we immediately thought of Hollywood – old-style Hollywood – and all that glamour and romance.

"Those great old musicals just lend themselves to some wonderful dance routines. "We'll be performing to some wonderful music; iconic songs such as Strike Up The Band, Everything's Coming Up Roses, I Remember It Well and Almost Like Being In Love. It's just a pleasure to dance to."

Looking beyond the tour, to the future, Anton predicts more Strictly appearances and continued success for the Saturday-night ratings winner.

"Strictly has been a phenomenal success," he says with a smile.

"I think we hoped it would be when we started on the show, but I don't think anybody knew just how much it would capture the public's imagination.

"I think the latest series has been one of the best and most popular yet."

But does the fact the champion ballroom dancer has never won the show – his highest placing was third with Lesley Garrett in 2004 – rankle?

The trend to partner (some wags might say lumber) Anton with the more "mature" ladies, such as Esther Rantzen, Gillian Taylforth, Ann Widdecombe, Nancy Dell'Olio and Jerry Hall surely means he's hamstrung from the start?

"No, not at all," he says diplomatically.

"The ladies I've danced with on the show have all been sensational. Perhaps not all of them were the greatest dancers in the world – but it's pure entertainment. And they've all been lovely.

"I wouldn't have missed dancing with Ann Widdecombe for the world. It was a great experience that the viewers loved.

"And look at the last series. I got to dance with Jerry Hall. I mean, the Jerry Hall, the legendary Texas supermodel. There are worse ways of making a living."

And what about those rumours that suggest Anton would be the ideal man to step into Brucie's hosting shoes when the veteran comic finally decides to hang up his hat and tails.

After serving as a team captain on the dignity-chewing, skin-tight silver suit-wearing game show Hole In The Wall, he's probably paid his dues.

"Errr, now, well. You know," he says, desperately trying not to say anything controversial about any potential passing of the Strictly torch.

"I love Brucie. Everyone loves Brucie. One of the reasons the show is such as success is because of what Brucie does.

"I hope he continues for many series to come."

So, does he fancy fronting the show one day, or not?

"Oh, I can't possibly say," he says with a twinkle in his eye.

"It's nice of you to think I'd make a good job of it. You can say that. But I couldn't possibly comment."