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Anton du 'Hairy Beke': Dancing star reveals his incredibly hairy body on Barbados beach
Last updated at 09:19am on 08.01.08Fans of Strictly Come Dancing will have caught glimpses of his hairy chest as he performs an open-shirted rumba on screen.
But surely nothing could prepare them for this . . . Anton du Beke in his full hirsute glory.
The dancer's heavily matted chest, midriff and - most notably - back were on display as he emerged from the sea during a holiday in Barbados.
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Anton du 'Hairy Beke': The dancing star on his beach holiday in Barbados
Hairy: Anton's back is usually kept from view under his swish dancing outfits
While he may not quite be in the Daniel Craig league when it comes to showing off his body in the surf, he seemed to be doing a very good impression of the James Bond star as he opted for a pair of figure-hugging trunks.
While the rest of us are staying indoors, battling the January blues, twinkle-toed du Beke - who partnered GMTV's Kate Garraway in the most recent series of the show - has been sunning himself in the Caribbean haunt favoured by celebrities such as Simon Cowell.
As these pictures show, du Beke has obviously decided that body waxing - a favourite of many highly-paid, pampered footballers - is not for him.
The sight of his hairy back may not thrill all his female fans - and it is certainly a stark contrast to his usual elegant, highly-polished appearance on the hit BBC show.
The professional dancer suffered an early exit from the latest series after being partnered with the hapless Miss Garraway. Struggling with an injury, she was told by judge Bruno Tonioli that "Tutankhamun would have done better" after her paso doble with du Beke.
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Suited and booted: Du Beke with Kate Garraway
Fellow panellist Arlene Phillips said the dance - supposedly an interpretation of a matador and a bull - was "less like a cape and more like a shag carpet".
Du Beke has appeared in all five series of Strictly Come Dancing. In the first, he danced with singer Lesley Garrett and finished in third place.
For the second series, he partnered Esther Rantzen - they were eliminated in the third week. He danced with actress Patsy Palmer for the third series and finished fifth.
In the fourth series, he danced with actress and impressionist Jan Ravens but was eliminated in week five.
Reader views (1)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Leave the poor chap alone! Hes a wonderful dancer and is charming and witty - and also a true English gent - not many left...some of the world's greatest sex symbols are hairy - remember Sean Connery in the Bond movies?
- Lynn, Tamworth England
