Len Goodman thinks he’ll have regrets about quitting ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 72-year-old dance expert is to bow out from the judging panel this year after 12 years on the programme and though he knows he’ll miss the show, he thinks it’s right to go out on a high.
He said: "I’m sure when I’m sitting at home watching it on TV, I’ll turn to my old [wife] Sue and say, ‘Why didn’t I do it, I could have done that.’
"I’m sure Ill miss it but you make a decision that’s right at the time, and I’d rather go when people say, ‘Oh Len, it won’t be the same…’ rather than, ‘Thank heavens, that old fool’s getting doddery…’ "
But just because Len is leaving ‘Strictly’, it doesn’t mean fans won’t be seeing him on screen any more.
Speaking on ‘This Morning’, he teased: "I’ve done 12 years and it felt like a good time to hang up my dancing shoes and pursuing other things if they come."
Len insists he has "no input" into who his successor will be, but hopes producers choose a judge with knowledge of the ballroom and Latin worlds in order to complement the skills of the other panellists, Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood.
He said: "I will have no input, it’s all down to the producers but whoever they pick I’m sure will be the right choice.
"I hope it will be someone who has done ballroom and Latin because as good as the other judges are, I think the balance of the judges is terrific but you need one who has done ballroom and Latin and knows about heels and toes."
And Len dismissed claims he is backing Helen Richey – who is a judge on Australia’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ as his successor.
He explained: "I know her [but] I haven’t seen her for 40 years.
"I used to dance against her and her husband but I’ve never seen her critique anything, she’s on ‘Strictly’ in Australia, I haven’t seen her for 40 years so how would I know if shes good bad or whatever?
"I have no clue at all who it will be."
Len Goodman expects Strictly regrets
