Anton Du Beke responds to Richard Madeley's Strictly 2020 complaint amid 'difficult year'

Anton Du Beke, 54, joined Richard Madeley, 64, and his wife Judy Finnigan, 72, on the couple’s podcast, where they chatted candidly about Strictly Come Dancing. The former This Morning presenter quickly voiced his issue that his pal and Good Morning Britain co-star Ranvir Singh, 43, hadn’t won the dancing competition.

Bill Bailey, 56, who was partnered with Oti Mabuse, 30, lifted the Glitterball Trophy last month.

While Richard seemed pleased for the comedian’s win, he couldn’t help but insist that Ranvir should have been crowned the Strictly champion.

Following the coronavirus pandemic, the BBC show had to follow strict guidelines and had to perform routines without a live studio audience.

Speaking about the competition, Richard said: “You’re aware of the audience and that’s a rare thing with live telly.

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“That’s the beauty of the show, I think, and the reason why the show works and why it has lasted for so long.”

“Because we have under all circumstances a fifth judge or this year we have a fourth judge which is the audience,” he added to the Richard and Judy Book Club podcast.

“We asked them to invest in the show emotionally and physically by the old fashioned way of ringing up and voting and being a part of the show that way.”

Ranvir, who was partnered with Giovanni Pernice on Strictly, was voted off the competition in week eight.

Anton – who is Strictly’s longest serving professional dancer – was partnered with former politician Jacqui Smith on the show last year.