Anton: "I Used To Just Throw On A Backpack Full Of Rocks And Run Up A Hill"

Anton du Beke has given an interview to the health section of the Daily Mail.

Anton has never been a gym bunny: "Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run up a hill. You don't even have to go to a gym."

He says a few 'controversial' things in the interview.

"Diets are all nonsense: they don't work. Just don't get fat in the first place. I've no time for fat people, they should all be shot. What really upsets me is when I see fat kids. They've invariably got fat parents and they're the ones who are to blame. They need a good slap for having forced their bad ways on their kids. When I was at school, there would be one fat kid in the class. Now there are hordes of them. I don't understand the psychology of fat people, nor the flip side of that, size zero."

I agree that we have to tackle the problem of childhood obesity. I was that fat kid in class, and I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

But being a big adult is very difficult too. I wish I had the sort of job where you can dance all day. Instead, I have to sit on my fat rear looking at a PC screen all day. I have been fighting a loosing battle with my weight my whole life. I tried the gym and hated everything except the classes. I dance as much as I can, but it makes little difference.

I don't judge Anton for his opinion. Most dancers feel this way, and I don't blame them. No-one wants to look at a fat dancer, despite the fact I have been forcing audiences at the Broadway Theatre to do that for 25 years! Ha ha ha!

If my six numbers ever come up, I might open a fat dancers academy. Or maybe I'll just stick with the duelling piano bar idea...