Anton Du Beke has revealed how Ruth Langsford really ended up on top of him during an awkward moment on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2017.

After the pair performed a serious Paso Doble, they struck a pose but then within seconds tumbled onto the floor.

Many viewers at the time were left questioning whether it was supposed to happen or if it was an accident and now Anton, 57, has addressed what really happened.

While on Steph’s Packed Lunch hosting duties today, the stand-in presenter was quizzed by Ruth’s husband Eamonn Holmes as part of a Q&A.

The GB News host said: “She says she was protecting you, and that you fell but she made it look like she fell.

“So, did you fall? Or did she fall? Because she’s copped the blame. What’s the truth?”

Anton went on to explain that earlier on in the competition when she found out he was her dance partner, she jumped on him in excitement and they almost fell over.

After the awkward moment, Anton said Ruth “felt terrible” and apologised, but also proceeded to say it had put her off being lifted.

“Roll forward, we’re doing the Paso Doble,” he went on to explain. “And then I go over like this (on the floor) and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Oh , this is a disaster’.

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“The next thing I know, she rolled on top and the first thought that went through my mind was, ‘She’s rolling on top, she’s going to hate this when she looks at this back’.”

The dancer went on to describe a photograph of the moment, shared on the screen, in which his feet are seen hanging out of the bottom of her dress with his arms in the air.

Recalling the funny moment, he added: “[I remember] looking at Eamonn Holmes going, ‘I’m terribly sorry’.”

At the time, Eamonn and their son Jack, who were watching live from the audience, were left in hysterics over the blunder.

Ruth and Anton then managed to get back on their feet and went on to get critique from the judges, who scored them 22 out of 40 points.

Ruth later addressed the incident on Twitter (X) and apologised for “squashing” her partner.

Despite the mishap, the pair managed to get through to another week of the show but was later given the boot following a dance-off with Paralympian Jonnie Peacock.

Anton has since gone from being a dancer on the show to a judge alongside Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One.