Anton Du Beke gets emotional during sweet reunion with family on Adventures in Sicily

Virgin Radio

5 Apr 2023, 09:22

Anton Du Beke had quite the surprise when his wife and children joined the final episode of his travel series with fellow Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice.

The heartwarming scenes on Adventures in Sicily took place last night (Tuesday 4th April) during a special birthday party for the Italian dancer, which involved Anton and Giovanni’s father meeting for the first time. 

Not wanting to leave Anton out, Giovanni revealed to his friend that his wife, Hannah, and their twins George and Henrietta, had travelled out to Sicily to surprise him. 

Speaking to the Strictly judge, Giovanni told him: “I know how much you love me, but I know how much you love them…”

Anton then got tearful as his family ran over to give him a hug, and told the cameras: “I just, I'm so delighted because I was able to have my family and his [Giovanni's] family together. Aw, magic!"

Fans watching at home adored seeing the friendship between the two dancers, with many taking to Twitter to share their love of the dancing duo. 

One viewer wrote: “This was a beautiful fun and all telling series about the joys of friendship and love between two genuine people. You are like chalk and cheese but the love you and respect you share with each other is a pure treasure. Anton you now need to take Giovanni on a tour of your world.”

Another commented: “This programme has been utterly joyful. Watching tv content like this regularly would do wonders for most peoples mental health and wellbeing.”

A third said: “Watching #AntonAndGiovanni on TV is pure joy! Their camaraderie, friendship, and love for each other in sizzling Sicily is heartwarming and brings a smile to my face every time!”

The three-part series saw the Strictly pair team up in their first travel show together. They went back to Giovanni’s native Sicily to experience all the island has to offer, as well as some rather touching moments with the Italian star’s family.

They weren’t alone in their journey either, with Giovanni’s 2021 Strictly Come Dancing winning partner Rose Ayling-Ellis joining them on the way. 

Speaking to virginradio.co.uk and a Q+A prior to the launch of Adventures in Sicily, Anton shared: “[Rose] is so funny, she has a really dry sense of humour. It was lovely because when you're on Strictly Come Dancing, you do form a very unique relationship with your partner that is sort of enduring as well. Every time you see them, it's lovely. It's because it's unique.”

Having built such a close relationship with Anton, Giovanni admitted he felt it was the right time to “pay back” his friend for all he’s done for him in his career - from their early days on Strictly to now. 

The Italian dancer added that he was happy to “shed tears of joy” after his dad, a self-confessed Anton fan, and the dancer himself finally met. 

“[My dad] always said to me, ‘one day, you have to be like [Anton], otherwise I'm not happy enough’, Gio joked.  

“The moment when they connect to each other was a beautiful thing to watch. I'm seeing a friend that I admire and my dad getting together. It's beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful.”

Anton and Giovanni's Adventures in Sicily is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.