Len Goodman claims he and his fellow judges are banned from talking to one another during the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ dance-off.
The head judge says he, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel-Horwood and Darcey Bussell are watched by backstage staff during the final performances of the two celebrities with the fewest public votes to make sure they don’t come to a mutual decision on who they think should go home.
He said: "They are very important about the compliances on the show and that you do everything correct and there are people who check.
"You have to vote who you want to save straight away.
"You don’t see what the others have done. You don’t have a little chit-chat and say, ‘What shall we do?’
"Oh no, there’s no communication.
"You press a button if you want to save Number One or Number Two. You press it and then what happens, happens."
The 70-year-old professional ballroom dancer – who also acts as a judge on the US version – has also confessed he never thought the show would be a hit with viewers.
Len told the Daily Star newspaper: "I never thought Strictly would work.
"I remember it very clearly. I got the job and I said to my old Sue [his wife], ‘Nobody is really interested in ballroom dancing any more’.
"I was convinced the pros would not be able to teach the celebs to much of a standard. How wrong I was – and now it is everywhere."
Len Goodman: Judges can’t talk during dance-off
