Anton du Beke is shaping up as the firm fave to replace Len Goodman on Strictly next year.
And he already has the backing of current judge Darcey Bussell, who thinks he’d be great.
Speaking at a forum in London, the former prima ballerina said: “I think Anton would love it. He has done a lot on television already. And he is a great technician with everything he has to give as well.”
But Darcey, 47, warned that filling departing judge Len’s big shoes would be “very difficult” because he has a “great personality” as well as being extremely knowledgeable.
She doesn’t think Anton’s got it in the bag yet, adding: “There are many professional ballroom and Latin dancers who could fill that space.”
She firmly believes, however, that the role should be taken by a professional dancer rather than, say, a former contestant (remember the hullaballoo when Alesha Dixon replaced Arlene Phillips?).
Chalking him up as the 3/1 favourite yesterday, bookies were also taking punts on former dancers Karen Hardy and Ian Waite plus US judge Mandy Moore.
The head judge crown is most likely to be passed to Craig (surely) while Bruno and Anton jostle to be the most amusing.
It turns out that when the show started, Craig and Bruno had entirely different ideas for themselves.
Darcey reveals: “Bruno actually auditioned for the grumpy judge and Craig auditioned for the comic judge but it went the other way around.”
Speaking last week, before Len announced this year’s show will be his last, Anton dropped strong hints he was ready for a change.
Just days before he celebrates turning half a century, the ballroom specialist was asked if he fancied a moving into presenting.
Anton, whose partner last year was radio host Katie Derham, replied: “It’s very flattering that people think it’s a possibility and I’m 50 this week so I can’t dance forever.”
He added: “Brendan and I are the only two original dancers, so we’re working hard to keep up the pace. But who knows what’ll happen in the future.”
A move for Anton would have the added advantage of getting him replaced by someone who can do the Latin dances as well as the ballroom... Just a thought.