Strictly Come Dancing: Anton Du Beke 'tipped to retire' after this year's series final

Short odds already

Anton Du Beke reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing for only the second time in 17 years this weekend (8.12.19).

But speculation has already begun as to whether pro dancer Anton, 53, will call it a day and walk away from the show after the final, quitting while he's ahead.

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Anton and his partner, EastEnders actress Emma Barton, reached the final after escaping the dreaded dance-off.

Comedian Chris Ramsey and his partner Karen Hauer weren't so lucky, as they were eliminated with the judges opting to save Karim Zeroual and his partner Amy Dowden.

Anton and Emma danced the Cha-Cha-Cha and the Waltz, scoring a 31 and 36 from the judges respectively.

But with the couple preparing for this week's final, speculation has already started that he may bow out after the last episode of the series.

According to bookmakers Ladbrokes, odds are 3/1 that Anton retires after this series of Strictly.

A Ladbrokes spokesperson told The Express: "Strictly wouldn’t be the same without him but the odds suggest we’ll have to get used to life after Anton."

ED! has gone to Strictly reps for comment.

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For now though, Anton is basking in the fact that he has reached the final.

He told co-host Claudia Winkleman in last night's results show (8.12.19): "I’ll tell you this, you do something like this for a long time and you love every second of it and think this can’t get any better really...

"And then someone like Emma comes along and it just goes that... there you go, it is better than you though.

"It’s a brilliant thing and it’s all because of Emma."

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