Strictly’s Anton Du Beke reveals horrifying moment he was stabbed by his father

Strictly judge Anton Du Beke opened up about a violent attack by his dad, who stabbed him in the leg and stomach.

The 60-year-old Strictly Come Dancing star has published his memoir Steps in Time: The Moments that Made Me.

Du Beke, who grew up in Kent, detailed his tumultuous relationship with his dad, Antal, who hails from Hungary.

The dancer and broadcaster described his late father as a violent alcoholic, and revealed how the life-changing incident in his mid-20s led to his estrangement from him.

The stabbing happened on Boxing Day in the family home in Sevenoaks, when Du Beke was on the phone with his dance teacher, he said.

Suddenly, he felt a stab in the leg and stomach after being attacked by his dad.

Injured Du Beke was able to get outside, where he stopped a police car. He was taken to a hospital where he spent four days.

Meanwhile, the officers took his dad away, and that after the stabbing, ‘I never laid eyes on him again,’ he told The Times.

Du Beke revealed he ‘doesn’t honestly know’ if his father faced charges after the knifing.

Antal died in 2001.

Trying to hide the real reason for his injury because he felt ’embarrassed,’ Du Beke told people he had a torn hamstring.

In the memoir, he said the incident and his dad’s arrest prompted his parents’ divorce. His mum Ascensión is from Spain and he has two younger siblings.

But Du Beke insisted that what happened is ‘not the defining moment of my life’ and he doesn’t ‘want people to give me sympathy.’

Du Beke, who doesn’t drink, told The Times that ‘everybody’s an armchair psychologist.’

He continued: ‘They go, “Oh, I see!” No, I promise you don’t see. I don’t drink. Before people know my father’s an alcoholic they go, “He doesn’t drink.” Now it’s, “I know why!” Not the case.

‘I tried drinking when I was 17 and was sick all over the place. Two pints of beer, head spinning, the whole thing. I’ve got no constitution and it’s hugely expensive. I’d rather spend the money on dancing lessons.’

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