Len Goodman is an "old traditionalist" who is unsure about same-sex couples on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 75-year-old dance expert – who was head judge on the show until 2016 – has judged competitions in the past featuring all-male and all-female pairings and while he admitted they were "terrific" dancers who put in "tasteful" performers, he doesn’t think the BBC should mess with the current format.
Asked about recent claims celebrities will get to choose if they want a male or female partner next year, he said: "I’ve judged what they used to call pink competitions with ladies dancing together, and a load of guys.
"They were of a very high standard, terrific dancing actually. Somehow whilst you were judging it, you didn’t even notice.
"It wasn’t that one of the men was dressed in a frock or anything, it was done in a very tasteful way. So if it’s done in that way I think it would be OK.
"But that doesn’t change the fact I’m an old traditionalist.
"The thing is, it’s so difficult to please everyone. What I’m used to is traditional ballroom and Latin dancing.
"When I was judging on ‘Strictly’, if somebody did some outlandish movement I didn’t like it.
"I like it as it was, but everything moves on."
And Len knows whatever is decided about same-sex couples, the show will face criticism.
He added to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "If they do it, there’ll be people saying, ‘I’m not going to watch it any more’.
"And if they don’t do it, there’ll be people saying, ‘Well, you’re homophobic’. They can’t win."
The former dancer admitted he would be sympathetic to older viewers who wouldn’t welcome same-sex pairings on ‘Strictly’.
Asked if he was sympathetic to those viewers, he said: "Yes, ‘cos I’m one of those older people myself."
‘Traditionalist’ Len Goodman
