Strictly's Anton Du Beke shares heartbreak over wife's 'cruel and inexplicable' diagnosis

Daily Mirror

10 hours ago

Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has been married to his wife Hannah Summers since 2017 and the couple share twins George and Henrietta, who were born via IVF
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has candidly opened up about his wife's harrowing struggle with endometriosis and its impact on their path to becoming parents.
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The beloved BBC star tied the knot with marketing executive Hannah Summers in 2017, after first crossing paths at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey in 2012. The couple were overjoyed to welcome twins George and Henrietta shortly after their nuptials, thanks to successful IVF treatment.
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However, during an intimate chat on Giovanna Fletcher' s Happy mum Happy Baby podcast, Anton shared that Hannah had serious concerns about their ability to start a family due to her debilitating condition of endometriosis.
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The NHS states endometriosis is "where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body. It can have a big impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help".
The esteemed dancer confessed his bewilderment at life's cruelty, as he watched Hannah lovingly interact with her nephews, questioning the fairness of their IVF journey.
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He expressed: "I knew I wanted to be with her, I saw her with her nephews. She's so kind and so caring, I just couldn't understand the universe."
Anton lamented the seeming injustice from above, saying: "And whoever is upstairs, if anyone's upstairs, looking down and going 'you are the most perfect person to have children, but I'm not going to let you have any children because I'm going to give you this'.
"And I'm going to say 'you're going to have this endometriosis, and you're going to suffer with this all of your life, chronically, and I'm not going to let you have any children.
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"I thought that was peculiar, cruel, and inexplicable and unforgivable. And if ever I go up to somewhere and meet this person I would say 'I think you're not OK with decisions like this, this doesn't make any sense to me."
Anton has openly discussed the challenges he and his wife Hannah faced throughout their IVF journey, which ultimately strengthened their bond. The pair were fortunate as the procedure succeeded on their initial try, leading to the arrival of their twins, George and Henrietta, in 2017, with their wedding following later that year.
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During an emotional conversation with Giovanna, Anton revealed his former ignorance about endometriosis and stressed the need for greater government investment in women's healthcare.
Looking back on their experience, he revealed: "Then we went through the process of IVF, well crying out loud. You girls are extraordinary. As much as I want to get involved, all I can do is hold your hand. It makes me emotional every time I talk about it. The injections, the stress, the anxiety. I have anxiety and stress but it's not my body.
"She has these injections and the bruises in the bum, in the thigh, in the stomach. And you're trying to help but what can you do? Whatever you want, tell me and I'll do it but that's all you have and it's horrendous as a man to watch it.
"You feel so inadequate and you want to do so much more but I can't do anything. And that's why you girls are so extraordinary, you're extraordinary that you do all this stuff."