Strictly Come Dancing star's future unveiled after he told BBC bosses 'you'll have to fire me'

Anton du Beke has been a part of Strictly Come Dancing since the very first series, but his professional dance partner Erin Boag has insisted he would never leave of his own accord

Anton du Beke said he would have to be "fired" if he were ever to leave the show, his former dance partner Erin Boag has revealed.

Having transitioned from professional dancer to full-time judge following Bruno Tonioli's departure, Erin believes he'd never walk away voluntarily. She insists that if the bosses wanted him gone, they'd have to push him out, given his deep love for the programme.

Erin, speaking with Spin Genie, said: "He was never going to leave as a professional dancer. It was very much the, 'you're going to have to fire me', quite frankly. I think everyone was just waiting for him to get a different position, because he deserved it, for sure."

She praised his professionalism and communication skills, suggesting that firing him might lead viewers to switch off due to his significant presence on the show.

"He's very professional, he's great at talking, and he's just that, I don't think you could fire him, because I think people would turn off. That sounds really horrible, but I think they would, because he's such a great character on the show," she added: "

Erin also commented on how Anton's extensive dancing experience on Strictly sets him up to be a better judge, reports Birmingham Live.

"Professionally, what you have there is you have somebody who's been there for years, who has seen both sides, who knows what it's like to be danced with, somebody that's great, knows what it's like," she added.

"Even more so because he's been given - putting it nicely - the most challenging partners, more than anybody else. As Craig has said, 'I've given out 10 ones, and my time, and six of them were to you', probably with Ann Widdecombe.

"He is not only the most loved, and gains a lot of respect from the professionals, having been on both sides, having experienced what they've experienced. So he knows, as he's watching, if the professionals are in pain because their partner's forgotten their whole routine going around."

Erin continued, explaining that the professionals on the show have immense respect for him because they know he's been through similar experiences. During his time on the show, Anton was paired with numerous high-profile celebrities, including Ruth Langsford, Kate Garraway, and Patsy Palmer, as well as Gillian Taylforth, Judy Murray, and Jacqui Smith.

*Strictly Come Dancing airs on the weekends on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.