How Many Times Has Anton Du Beke Been Married

Let’s cut to the chase: Anton Du Beke has been married once. The king of the ballroom, the man who has glided across our screens for decades, said “I do” to his longtime partner, Hannah Summers, in 2017. It’s a surprisingly simple answer for a man whose life is usually full of dramatic lifts and sequined twists.

But as with any good dance, the story leading up to that single "I do" has a few interesting steps. Anton and Hannah met in 1990 at a golf course, of all places—a wonderfully un-glamorous origin for the star of Strictly Come Dancing. Their courtship was a slow waltz, not a frantic jive, and they dated for over two decades before making it official.

Why the long wait? Anton himself has joked that timing is everything, both in dance and in marriage. He once said in an interview that he was “very happy” with the arrangement, feeling no pressure to formalize their bond until it felt perfectly right. The result? A quiet, intimate ceremony at a five-star hotel in Hertfordshire, complete with a string quartet and a first dance that was, predictably, flawless.

The Real Love Story Behind the Headlines

To understand Anton’s single marriage, you have to look at the context. For years, the tabloids linked him to his various Strictly partners, from Ann Widdecombe to Judy Murray. The “will they, won’t they” narrative is a staple of reality TV, but Anton was playing a very different game at home.

His relationship with Hannah is the epitome of modern, low-key stability. She is a former make-up artist and works as a PA, largely staying out of the celebrity spotlight. This is the woman who saw him through his early days as a dance teacher and watched his rise to TV royalty without ever needing a red carpet moment.

A fun fact: Anton and Hannah have twins, twins born via surrogate in 2017, just months before their wedding. The timing of their marriage was, in a very real sense, a celebration of their family unit coming together. It wasn’t a grand romantic gesture; it was a practical, loving consolidation of a life already built.

Practical Tips You Can Steal from Anton's Approach

Tip 1: Ignore the outside noise. Anton’s "marriage record" is clean because he never let public gossip dictate his private timeline. When you’re in a relationship, block out the ‘when are you getting married?’ questions. Your timeline is your own, just like his was.

Tip 2: Don’t rush the foundation. They were together for 27 years before marrying. That’s not a flaw; it’s a masterclass in building a solid partnership. Think of it less as a long engagement and more as a life partnership that happened to get an official label later on.

Tip 3: Keep your partner out of the studio. Anton famously kept Hannah away from the Strictly chaos. Having a separate space for your career and your personal life is a brilliant, if challenging, way to maintain mental health. Your partner doesn’t need to be your work therapist.

A Cultural Touch of the Dance Floor

In the world of ballroom dancing, there is a concept called the “frame.” It’s the solid, constant connection between partners that allows them to move as one without falling apart. Anton and Hannah’s relationship has that kind of frame. It’s strong, invisible, and completely supportive, even when the music changes around them.

Think of it like this: while his professional partners change every season—a new Rumba, a new Paso Doble—his personal partner remained his constant dance. He didn’t need to marry her to prove commitment; the commitment was already proven through years of quiet support and shared life.

For context, the average UK marriage lasts about 12 years. Anton’s single marriage is currently in its sixth official year, but if you count the relationship, it’s a decades-long success story. That’s a better statistic than most pop songs hitting number one.

The Verdict on His Marital Status

So, to answer the question definitively: Anton Du Beke has been married one time. Not two, not three, not a tally on a wall like some Hollywood stars. He is the steady, reliable, one-marriage man that his TV persona would suggest—just with a slightly longer pre-waltz than expected.

His story is a refreshing antidote to the modern “marry fast, divorce fast” culture. It suggests that true connection isn’t about the date on a license, but about the person who waits for you at the end of a long day of rehearsals. It’s a lesson in not mistaking the timing of a ceremony for the depth of a bond.

Reflection for Daily Life: In a world obsessed with milestones—the engagement, the wedding, the house—Anton’s story is a gentle reminder that a life well-lived often looks like a slow dance rather than a sprint. Maybe the best “number” isn’t how many times you get married, but how many years you spend turning with the same person in your arms. Take a beat. Let your own timeline waltz at its own pace. The music is always better when you’re not rushing the steps.