Len Goodman thinks he’s going to die in nine years’ time.
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge has admitted he’s decided to leave his head position on the ballroom and latin show because he’s worried he’ll keel over at 79 – just like his dad.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror newspaper, he said: "That’s only seven years away from my age now, and although I hope to live until I’m 99, I need to have more me-time…
"All my friends are in Portugal playing golf and saying, ‘Len, do you want to come with us?’ and I have to say, ‘No, I’ve got to go and do ‘Strictly Come Dancing’."
And, although viewers are convinced the popular BBC One programme will go down hill once Len leaves next week, the former dancer believes the show will go on forever providing bosses manage to snap up the best selection of celebrities.
He said: "As long as they keep getting interesting celebrities to go on it, it’ll go on for ever and ever!"
Len has sat on the panel since the show started in 2004 but announced he was stepping down prior to the current series because he was struggling to split his time between the UK and the US, where he films ‘Dancing With the Stars’.
Bosses are still on the hunt for a judge to take Len’s place but it’s believed Karen Hardy – who was employed as a professional dancer on the programme from 2005 until 2008 – is the only one to have had discussions with the bosses.
She told BANG Showbiz: "Let’s say, there’s been rumblings going around. If an email comes in, I won’t say no."
Len Goodman fears death
