Anton du Beke and his wife Hannah Summers eventually had twins (Image: PA)
Strictly judge Anton Du Beke has candidly discussed his wife’s painful struggle with endometriosis and how it impacted their path to becoming parents.
The BBC star married his marketing executive wife, Hannah Summers, in 2017, having first crossed paths at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey back in 2012. The couple welcomed twins George and Henrietta shortly after their nuptials, following IVF treatment.
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However, Strictly stalwart Anton revealed on Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy mum Happy Baby podcast that Hannah had serious concerns about their chances of conceiving due to her debilitating condition.
The professional dancer, who turns 60 today (Monday, July 20), confessed he “couldn’t understand the universe” after observing Hannah with her nephews, before discussing their IVF journey.
He said: “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,” reports Lancs Live, reports Wales Online.
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Anton and his wife Hannah share a set of twins (Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
“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.
“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 spoken openly about the challenges he and his wife Hannah faced throughout their IVF journey, an experience which ultimately strengthened their bond. The couple were fortunate enough to succeed on their very first attempt, welcoming twins George and Henrietta in 2017, before tying the knot later that same year.
Anton du Beke (Image: PA)
During a deeply personal conversation with Giovanna, Anton revealed his former lack of understanding about endometriosis, while underlining the urgent need for greater government investment in women’s health.
Reflecting on their experience, he said: “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.”
