Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Anton Du Beke has revealed he auditioned to replace head judge Len Goodman but was turned down.
Anton delighted fans last November when he waltzed into the judging chair for two weeks to fill in for regular judge Motsi Mabuse, but that position could have been more permanent if he got his way a few years earlier.
Speaking on Steph's Packed Lunch, Anton revealed he put himself forward for a permanent spot on the judging panel which eventually went to Shirley Ballas, who joined the show in 2017.
Anton told host Steph McGovern: "You know what they say about you lose more than you win…
"When Len left Strictly Come Dancing, they interviewed and auditioned a number of people to take over from Len. I auditioned for it and I got turned down as a judge."
When it was then pointed out to Anton that Strictly bosses "came knocking when they needed" him, Anton replied: "Well I don't like to brag!"
He then added: "It doesn't mean it's the end, it just means you go 'well, okay, well, I can go again.'"
Anton's recent stint in the judging chair was given a 10 by former head judge Len in December, who said he did a "fantastic job" when he filled in for regular judge Motsi. She had to self-isolate at home following an emergency trip to Germany.
Len went on to add while speaking on Good Morning Britain: "When I left, I thought that it may be Anton who would step into my place.
"I'm not going to big him up too much, but he's got a great personality, he knows all about dancing — Ballroom and Latin and so on — so I thought it might be his turn."
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One. It's due to return later in 2021.
![Strictly Come Dancing - Motsi & Anton's Strictly The Best [DVD] [2021]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1636376452-51-wTB4ZAL._SL500_.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Strictly Come Dancing - Motsi & Anton's Strictly The Best [DVD] [2021]")
![Strictly Come Dancing: Shirley and Craig's Perfect 10 [DVD]](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1602857040-51TXVDJudnL.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Strictly Come Dancing: Shirley and Craig's Perfect 10 [DVD]")
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