It's safe to say Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke is pretty pleased about his dance partner for this year's series, EastEnders star Emma Barton.

The popular professional dancer told the Radio Times that he's "very excited about this one".

"Emma's tall, gorgeous and talented," he added. "She's an absolute dream and, I've got to be honest, younger than I'm used to."

He also threw some shade at his previous partners, adding: "She's got her own teeth. That'll do for me."

Harsh... but it certainly makes a change for Anton to be partnered with someone as young as 42-year-old Emma, who plays Honey Mitchell on the BBC soap.

Tess Daly, Emma Barton, Anton Du Bek at Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Launch Show,
Kieron McCarron//BBC

Related: EastEnders star Emma Barton reveals how she will juggle filming the show with Strictly Come Dancing commitments

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Anton – who is 53 – has previously been paired with the likes of 71-year-old Brexit party MEP Ann Widdecombe, 73-year-old Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph and 79-year-old That's Life legend Esther Rantzen.

Another of Anton's former partners was This Morning's Ruth Langsford, and he had some criticism to share about when they danced together when he appeared on the daytime show earlier this year.

Ruth Langsford and Anton Du Beke on Strictly: It Takes Two
BBC

Related: Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke lands a new job on This Morning

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He said: "We'd do a dance in rehearsal and then finish the dance, and I'd go, 'Now listen, the arms weren't quite right', and I could just see them bubbling up – the tears – and then I'd go, 'But the legs were terrific' and then they'd settle down again, and we could have another go."

Very diplomatic, Anton.

Strictly Come Dancing 2019's first live show airs on Saturday, September 21 on BBC One.

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