Strictly would have been very different if Anton had taken the other career path(Image: ITV)

Anton Du Beke admits one thing almost stopped him joining Strictly Come Dancing

by · DevonLive

Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke opened up about how he almost pursued a career as a professional golfer, an dream he had before becoming a household dance favourite.

The renowned 58 year old dancer, who has an impressive golf handicap of one, is now combining his passions for conversation and golf in a brand-new podcast titled Putt And Strut, which he co-hosts with Sky Sports presenter Sarah Stirk.

Reflecting on what might have been, Anton shared his thoughts: "I could quite happily have taken it up as a profession if I'd stumbled into it before dance, because the two are very similar. You're always striving for the next level. You can't perfect golf, and dancing is the same thing."

Known for his elegance on the dance floor, Anton explained how this finesse translates to his golf game: "There's an element of correlation between golf and dance in motion, timing, rhythm and movement. It's about the hips."

Anton has launched the Putt & Strut podcast with Sarah Stirk(Image: Putt & Strut podcast)

Anton also wondered whether his dedication to dance could have translated to success on the green: "If I had gone down the golf route, I would've approached it with the same fervour as dance - but whether it would've paid off, well, that's another story".

Together with his co-host Sarah, aged 46, who recently invited Mirror journalist Tom for a spin on the golf simulator, their show aims to challenge the gender stereotypes commonly associated with golf, featuring personalities such as Judy Murray and James Nesbitt.

Addressing the sport's masculine image, Anton voiced: "It's that hurdle, that intimidatory factor. Everybody feels like it's a very male-orientated sport, and it sort of is, but not."

Anton Du Beke and Sarah Stirk challenged Tom to a golf simulator(Image: (Image: Reach/Mirror ))

The devoted dad of seven year old twins, married to Hannah, shared how the golf course doubles up as his office of sorts, where his creativity can flow.

He said: "I don't do any sort of work at home... because of the children. So when I get on to the golf course, it's great. It's where I do everything. I learn lyrics, I think about dance styles, putting shows together."

Reflecting on special times on the green, he warmly remembered the rounds he played with legendary entertainer Bruce Forsyth: "We played a lot of golf and not once did he let me win."

Anton and Sarah's Putt & Strut podcast is available now on Global Player and all major podcast platforms.