Anton Du Beke 'next Strictly Come Dancing star caught up in BBC misconduct probe'

The Daily Mirror reports the judge has been named to lawyers Carter Ruck by his former partner, who he was paired with in 2009.

Du Beke was a professional dancer on the show until 2021 when he joined the judging panel.

The publication reports Rouass' complaint to lawyers is about a remark made by the dancer in which he reportedly said she looked like "a p**i" following a spray tan. He later apologised.

Du Beke said at the time: "I must say immediately and categorically that I am not a racist and that I do not use racist language.

"During the course of rehearsals Laila and I have exchanged a great deal of banter entirely in jest, and two weeks ago there was an occasion when this term was used between the two of us.

"There was no racist intent whatsoever but I accept that it is a term which causes offence and I regret my use of it, which was done without thought or consideration of how others would react. I apologise unreservedly for any offence my actions might have caused."

The actress, who has an Indian mother and a Moroccan father, accepted his apology.

She said at the time: "It was a situation which happened that we have moved on from and I accept his apology."

However, the probe is understood to be intensifying pressure at the BBC after the show has come under heavy scrutiny in recent weeks.

The internal investigation on the show was sparked when actress Amanda Abbington, 52, accused her dance partner Giovanni Pernice of "abusive" behaviour.

She quit the series mid-way through in the 2023 show and following the media storm that resulted from her complaints, Pernice was confirmed to have been removed from the show's line up.

Just this week, Graziano Di Prima became the next to be impacted by the probe after he was also axed following some "distressing" footage from his rehearsals with Zara McDermott last year.

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The Italian dancer released a lengthy statement in which he expressed: "I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly."

Love Island star McDermott also broke her silence when she admitted she'd been reluctant to speak out before but that she had faced a "distressing" experience at the hands of Di Prima.

Further accusations have since been come to light, including one source who told The Sun that Di Prima had "spat at and kicked" McDermott.

However, McDermott has now spoken out again in response to the choreographer stating the behaviour stemmed from one "singular incident".

Graziano admitted he had "crossed the line," and denied reports he had "spat" at McDermott but argued the other behaviours were a one-off incident.

A BBC spokesperson told GB News: “We will not be commenting on individuals or engaging with speculation.

"However, as we have said previously we will always listen if people want to make us aware of something or raise it with us directly and we have appropriate procedures and processes in place to manage this.”

Anton Du Beke's representatives have been approached by GB News for a comment.