Len Goodman is worried he’s to blame for Brendan Cole’s sacking from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 73-year-old former head judge – who turned his back on the programme in 2016 after 12 years – is devastated that the professional dancer has been dropped from this year’s line-up following a clash with new panellist Shirley Ballas – who was Len’s replacement – live on air last year.
Speaking to the Mail Online, Len said: "I’m so sad; I don’t understand why.
"You can’t say he didn’t do a great job. He did and there was always a bit of an edge with him: the bad boy of ballroom – he didn’t mind answering you back."
And Len is worried that Anton du Beke will have the same fate as Brendan – who have both been on the show since the first episode in 2004 – because bosses seem to be hiring new faces.
He explained: "I hope me leaving didn’t cause it and I just hope Anton doesn’t go the same way. It’d be a bloody tragedy – he’s got so much character. He’s terrific for the show. But there always has been egos with the professionals and it was the same when I danced, with anything competitive."
Len would also like to see more British professionals hit the dance floor.
He added: "I think all those pros are brilliant but I do like that you’ve got Kevin from Grimsby, and Anton from up the road. You don’t want to end up with a load of people from… you know… as good as they are. It’s nice to have some British dancers in there."
Brendan – who is known to use his acid tongue – got into a war of words with Shirley last year after she claimed he’d put a rise and fall into his Tango, which he performed with Charlotte Hawkins, but things got a little more heated when he shot down her comment and Bruno accused him of being "disrespectful."
Since it was announced he wouldn’t be returning to the ballroom and latin competition this year, fans have started an online petition in a bid to persuade the BBC to overturn their decision.
Len Goodman worries he’s to blame for Brendan Cole’s Strictly axe
