Anton du Beke thinks that his new partner Laila Rouass may help him get closer to this year’s final of Strictly Come Dancing.

“To be honest with you, if they’d said to me what sort of partner do you want this year, I’d say a fella, because they do so well!” Anton told the TV Times.

“But working with Laila this time is exciting, because she oozes potential.”

On the changes to this years Strictly format and Alesha Dixon as a new judge Anton said:

“I don’t mind a gentle evolution. As long as they don’t change me, I don’t care what they do! Alesha will be fine. I’m looking forward to what she says.

“But she better not criticise me or I’ll poke her in the arm with a big stick!”