Du Beke: 'I feel embarrassed and stupid'

Anton Du Beke has apologised publicly over the Strictly Come Dancing race row.

Speaking to Claudia Winkleman on BBC Two spinoff show It Takes Two, the 43-year-old voiced remorse for calling his celebrity partner Laila Rouass a "P**i".

He stated: "I'd like to reiterate my apology to Laila and to everybody on the show and to everyone who watches the show.

"I feel embarrassed and I feel stupid - it was a stupid thing to do and a stupid thing to say and now people are talking about that rather than the show.

"I'm mortified about it, completely, and Laila has been quite remarkably wonderful about it."

Rouass - who appeared alongside her professional dance partner - gave him her backing.

She said: "I've had such a great four weeks and I just don't want it to end. He's such a joy.

"Apart from the dancing, he's taught me how to be gracious and how to laugh about silly things and we've had a great time. I just want it to carry on, it's such a shame that this has happened."

The Mirror reports that Rouass is worried that the row will have made her unpopular with the voting public, and that she may be forced to leave after tonight's show.

According to the newspaper, she told friends: "This could be the end of the road and I'm devastated."