Anton Du Beke believes the best thing about his fame is the impact it has had on his mother

Anton Du Beke has revealed the best thing about being famous is the happiness it brings to his mother following her turbulent marriage to his father. 

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 54, who previously told how his father would beat him with a belt when drunk, said his success on the BBC show has had a big impact on his Spanish mother Ascension. 

Speaking to BBC Sounds When I Was 25 podcast, Anton said he had a ‘light bulb moment where he realised his father’s abusive behaviour was unacceptable. 

Anton Du Beke has revealed the best thing about being famous is the happiness it brings to his mother following her turbulent marriage to his father

He said: ‘It’s sort of obvious that that’s not OK… the aggression and the alcohol. I didn’t have a light bulb moment and go ‘Oh, does your dad not do that?’

Discussing the impact his success has had on his mother, he added: ‘I love the fact people know I’m my mum’s son and people know my mum.

‘My mum is fabulous and lovely. I love that she’s sort of got a bit famous… and she comes along now and again to see the show and it’s great.’

While Anton lived at home for periods during his 20s, he did not have any interaction with his father at that point, saying their paths rarely crossed.

Family: The Strictly Come Dancing star, 54, who previously told how his father would beat him with a belt when drunk, said his success on the BBC show has had a big impact on his Spanish mother Ascension (pictured)

Family: The Strictly Come Dancing star, 54, who previously told how his father would beat him with a belt when drunk, said his success on the BBC show has had a big impact on his Spanish mother Ascension (pictured) 

The dancer said that when his parents got divorced, his mum dyed her grey hair blonde and became a ‘rock chick’ he barely recognised.

Anton’s father Antal, who was from Hungary, died in 2001. 

It comes after Anton recently admitted he wanted to wait until he was ’emotionally and financially ready’ to start a family before welcoming twins with his wife Hannah Summers.

The dancer who became a first-time dad at the age of 50 to twins George and Henrietta, three, explained he ‘couldn’t imagine’ being a young father during an interview on Wednesday’s Steph’s Packed Lunch.

He said: 'My mum is fabulous and lovely. I love that she's sort of got a bit famous... and she comes along now and again to see the show and it's great' (pictured with his wife Hannah Summers)

He said: ‘My mum is fabulous and lovely. I love that she’s sort of got a bit famous… and she comes along now and again to see the show and it’s great’ (pictured with his wife Hannah Summers)

Anton added that he ‘wouldn’t have been ready’ for fatherhood at a younger age, after he and Hannah, 43, became parents to their twins following a lengthy battle with IVF.

Following the news that model Naomi Campbell had become a first-time mother to a baby daughter at the age of 50, Anton was quizzed on his own views surrounding older parents.

He said: ‘I couldn’t imagine doing it any other age, of course, because I haven’t. I wouldn’t have been ready for it earlier in my life.’

Candid: Anton welcomed twins George and Henrietta, three, with his wife Hannah, 43, in 2017

Candid: Anton welcomed twins George and Henrietta, three, with his wife Hannah, 43, in 2017

The dance pro, who has starred on Strictly since 2004, confessed he was extremely self-centred as a young man, adding: ‘The earlier part of my life was very very strictly on me.

‘I wouldn’t have been ready for number of reason, that reason, financially – children can cost you a few quid!’

Meanwhile Steph, 38, who welcomed a baby girl with her partner in 2019, revealed she was branded a geriatric mum by doctors when she was pregnant with her daughters.

Anton added that his wife Hannah was also given the same label by her doctors, despite the fact that many women are choosing to have children in their late 30s, adding: ‘It is a bit cruel to call them geriatric!’

Open: Speaking about becoming a dad on Steph's Packed Lunch he said: 'I couldn't imagine doing it any other age, of course, because I haven't. I wouldn't have been ready for it earlier in my life'

Open: Speaking about becoming a dad on Steph’s Packed Lunch he said: ‘I couldn’t imagine doing it any other age, of course, because I haven’t. I wouldn’t have been ready for it earlier in my life’

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