One Enchanted Evening: The uplifting and charming Sunday Times Bestselling Debut by Anton Du Beke

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There is a real mix of characters and personal situations. Class differences, nationality clashes, love and loss, career aspirations and family all feature in the character development. Continuity and change are key themes throughout the book and I felt that Anton du Beke treats these subjects sensitively.

The professional dancer told host Garraway: “I can’t really believe I’m talking to you about this. I should’ve glossed over this. I was absolutely thrilled to be offered the chance to review Anton du Beke's new novel Moonlight Over Mayfair. I admit to reading the first chapter in Anton's voice but soon got over my adoration and enjoyed the book for its own merits. Du Beke said he told people he had “pulled a hamstring” when asked about his leg injury because he was embarrassed.

Du Beke has also appeared in a number of Children in Need and Christmas Specials of Strictly Come Dancing. In 2008 he won the Children in Need 2008 special, dancing an American Smooth with Tess Daly. He danced once again with Anne Widdecombe in the 2012 Children in Need special but lost out to Russell Grant and Flavia Cacace. He did however go on to win the Children in Need 2014 special where he and fellow dancer Natalie Lowe taught a group of children how to dance. Du Beke has also reprised his partnerships with Lesley Garret and Ann Widdecombe for the 2004 and 2018 Christmas specials, respectively. He has also danced with Ronni Ancona, Su Pollard, Katy Brand and Denise Lewis in the respective 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016 Christmas specials. In 2015 Du Beke served as a judge on The People's Strictly, a one off version of the show where non-celebrities compete for the charity Comic Relief. In 2020, he reprised his role as a judge for weeks four and five to fill in for Motsi Mabuse who needed to quarantine after travelling to Germany. On 24 June 2021, it was announced that Du Beke would become a permanent judge on Strictly Come Dancing from series nineteen, starting in September 2021, replacing Bruno Tonioli. [9] Laila Rouass comment [ edit ] Du Beke was born in Sevenoaks, Kent, to a Hungarian father, Antal Xavier Beke [1](1939–2001), and a Spanish mother, Ascensión "Conchita" Lema. [2] He has two younger siblings, brother Stephen and his sister Veronica. [3] He attended Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks. [4] Du Beke has discussed his father's problems with alcoholism and revealed that he was stabbed by his father in the leg and stomach during a Boxing Day altercation at their home in Kent. [5] Glamorous, enchanting, and beautifully detailed, MOONLIGHT OVER MAYFAIR by Anton Du Beke is sure to delight historical fiction fans around the globe. What I also found enlightening was the mention of the new risqué dance styles that were beginning to make their entrance on the ballrooms of London. Appearing on Kate Garraway’s Life Stories, Du Beke said: “The alcoholism and the violence…(it was) towards me, because I was a boy, a young man I suppose.

The deco decoration at the start of each chapter sets the scene for the ball room and grand hotel where all the action occurs. I enjoyed reading about Raymond de Guise in his first outing and had been looking forward to this follow up, however this second novel felt somewhat rushed and I didn’t feel much for any of the characters this time around. Can this troupe of old-time crooners, dancing girls and magicians possibly pull this off? Especially when they must compete with the 1960's rebellious new bands and revolutionary music? Abandoned by her brother, Evie has no idea if she'll ever be able to wrestle the troupe into a show fit for a queen.Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke announces birth of twins". News & Star. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018 . Retrieved 31 March 2017. I have a little, teensy weeny confession to make. Yes yet another one. Although I have Anton’s first book called ‘One Enchanted Evening’ on my ever growing ‘to be read’ mountain, I haven’t actually read it yet. What a mistake to make. Having just finished reading ‘Moonlight Over Mayfair’, I can guarantee that ‘One Enchanted Evening’ will not be on that ‘to be read’ mountain for very much longer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Moonlight Over Mayfair’ but more about that in a bit.

Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or a fan of Anton himself for his beautiful dancing etc then you'll love this book - give it a twirl and take a waltz down memory lane - you shouldn't be disappointed! Du Beke also highlights the political minefield of the era in which this novel is set. There are plenty of name drops in the novel, both British and international royalty are mentioned. These were my favourite parts. I liked how Du Beke covered the time of King Edward and his eventual abdication, the unrest felt at the time, and the new incoming King. As an historian, I loved the insight into the 1930s London in the period of the coronation of King George VI and the lead up to the Second World War. The book evokes the same nostalgia as Downton Abbey and Gosford Park, and I could easily imagine this to be made into a Sunday night series. Anton Du Beke to join Strictly judges for new series". BBC News. 24 June 2021 . Retrieved 24 June 2021. Garraway said Du Beke’s father was cleared in court of wounding his son and when he died, Du Beke did not attend his funeral.

Off the dance floor, Du Beke is an author having published novels including We’ll Meet Again, One Enchanted Evening and A Christmas To Remember – and his solo tour, An Audience With Anton Du Beke starts this month. About Us". The Music Hall Guild. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014 . Retrieved 29 December 2010. For a first novel this flows beautifully and it should come as no surprise that the action centres around the dance and dancers of a top London hotel's ballroom. It also looks at the secrets which all the main characters hold close and how they deal with the good and bad things life throws their way in a time which was itself in the first turmoil of great change and tragedy.

It wasn’t really for me, but I think this book will appeal to fans of Strictly or those who like period dramas like Downtown Abbey. It is not very historically accurate (unless your history knowledge is entirely from Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife & similar!), but it has a charm & I could see it being adapted to a Sunday evening TV miniseries! a b "Strictly Anton Du Beke's life from famous This Morning presenter ex-girlfriend". Examinerlive.co.uk. 18 December 2021. In 2009 he presented the United Kingdom version of Hole in the Wall for the BBC, replacing Dale Winton, after being a team captain in 2008. In November 2017 he released his debut studio album, From the Top, on Polydor Records. It reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. On Christmas Day 2019, Du Beke surprised Craig Revel Horwood as a guest in the Christmas Midnight Gameshow in Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show.Recalling the incident, he continued: “…I got stabbed in the leg and in the stomach because of a fight on Boxing Day and it was an idiotic situation.