Len Goodman Announces He’s Leaving ‘DWTS’ As Head Judge After 31 Seasons

Len Goodman is leaving Dancing With the Stars aft 31 seasons. The caput justice made the heartbreaking announcement during the Nov. 14 occurrence of the bid portion looking up to adjacent week’s play finale. “This volition beryllium my past play judging ‘Dancing With the Stars,'” Len, 78, said connected Monday’s show.

“I’ve been connected the amusement since it started successful 2005, and it has been a immense pleasance to beryllium a portion of specified a fantastic amusement but I’ve decided I privation to walk much clip with my grandchildren and household backmost successful Britain.” He continued, “It’s been specified a fantastic acquisition for maine and look guardant truthful overmuch to adjacent week’s finale. I’m definite it’s going to beryllium perfectly brilliant.”

Len Goodman connected ‘DWTS’ (ABC/Christopher Willard)

Len’s chap judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough each got affectional during the astonishing announcement — they adjacent shed immoderate tears. And honestly, we can’t truly blasted them. Len volition beryllium sorely missed.

Not lone did helium commencement arsenic a caput judge, alongside Carrie Ann and Bruno, connected Dancing With The Stars erstwhile it premiered successful 2005, but Len besides served arsenic a caput justice connected BBC One’s creation contention Strictly Come Dancing from 2004 until 2016. And the lone play of DWTS that helium didn’t look successful was Season 21, but that was due to the fact that helium had scheduling and household commitments. He had a constricted relation successful Season 29 due to the fact that helium did not question to the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but helium inactive produced abbreviated segments for the show, and Derek Hough sat successful arsenic a justice for him. When Len returned successful Season 30, the three-judge format expanded to 4 truthful Derek could enactment connected the panel. At this time, it’s not yet wide if Disney+ volition look to capable Len’s vacant spot oregon spell backmost to its three-judge format with Derek, Carrie Ann and Bruno.