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Anton Du Beke and wife’s fertility struggle – ‘Gruelling’ process to becoming a dad at 50

Anton became a first-time father when he was 50

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Anton Du Beke and his wife are proud parents to two children, however, the married couple have been open about their fertility struggles.

Strictly judge Anton married wife Hannah Summers in 2017, the same year they had children. In March 2017, Anton announced on Instagram that they had welcomed a son George and a daughter Henrietta via IVF. Anton became a first-time father at 50 years old.

You can catch Anton on Blankety Blank tonight (Saturday, August 31).

Anton Du Beke on Loose Women
Anton became a dad for the first time at age 50 (Credit: YouTube)

Anton Du Beke wife

During an appearance on Loose Women in 2020, Anton discussed the “grueling” process he and his wife Hannah faced during their IVF journey.

“Hannah was diagnosed with endometriosis in her early twenties. Endometriosis is a massive thing for ladies. [As] a man, you look on and it’s one of those things where you go ‘I don’t understand,'” he said.

“For a woman, it affects the quality of your life to a degree, because it sort of comes in three parts. First there’s the excruciating pain, second there’s the swelling. It sometimes makes you look like you’re pregnant, which is quite a perverse thing because people come up to you and say: ‘Congratulations’ and you’re like: ‘Actually, no.’ And it stops you, in many cases, from becoming pregnant. As a man, there’s nothing you can do. All I can do is support, empathise and do whatever I can do.”

Anton explained that the only option for him and Hannah if they wanted to have kids was to go through IVF. Discussing the challenging process, the dancer described the injections as “gruelling,” “intense,” and “painful,” adding that there is also bruising.
“You have to have injections, all the time… in your stomach. They’re not little, invisible needles, they’re big old blunt things. I had to do it – ones in your behind. And I’m thinking: ‘Please don’t hurt her.’ And of course it hurts. And it’s so hard to do it. But of course, what am I worried about? She’s the one who has to go through the pain,” Anton continued.

Anton and wife’s fertility issues

Three years later, Anton opened up again to Kate Garraway on ITV’s Life Stories about their fertility struggles.

“Hannah is everything I thought she would be. I thought she’d be an excellent mum, always knew she’d be a great mum but she couldn’t have children. I thought, ‘Isn’t it funny how nature works in mysterious ways?’ – the person I thought would be an incredible mum couldn’t have children. That’s the sad irony of it all,” he said.

“But as we had IVF, we were able to have them in the end and I’m thrilled for me – because I’d have 100 [kids] by the way, because I love them – but I’m thrilled for Hannah because she is amazing at it.”

Anton Du Beke and wife Hannah talking on Lorraine
Anton and Hannah’s IVF journey made them closer (Credit: YouTube)

Anton Du Beke twins

Outside of having two children, Anton revealed that their IVF experience helped bring them closer together.

“You could say it brought us closer together because it’s a shared experience,” he said. “I use the shared bit loosely as it’s Hannah’s and I’m there as much as I can. I felt like I gave myself up to Hannah… that’s such a ridiculous statement, but I was like: ‘What do you want? The best I can do is support you.'”

Last year, Anton told OK! that being a father is “the best thing”.

He continued: “Everyone thinks this about their own children, but I think they are pretty marvellous. It is all about them, really, that’s what is brilliant about my life.”

Read more: Inside Anton Du Beke’s cosy home life with his wife and twins

Anton is on Blankety Blank tonight (Saturday, August 31) which airs from 7.50pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Strictly's Anton Du Beke on His and Wife Hannah's IVF Struggle | Loose Women

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Fabio Magnocavallo
Freelance Writer