Len Goodman Quits Strictly Come Dancing

London: Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman is about to leave the show after the next series.

The 72-year-old English professional ballroom dancer has led the judging panel since the programme started 12 years ago.

“This adventure began when I was 60 and now that I’ve reached my 70s, I've decided after this year it's time to hand the role of head judge to someone else,”he said. “I’m looking forward to my last series very much and to whatever comes next.”

Goodman will be joined by fellow judges Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood for his final series, which begins in the autumn. This is the 14^th series of the show, which began in 2004.

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will continue to present the BBC One series.

Speaking about his time on the programme, Goodman said: “In 2004, I was asked to take part in a brand new BBC Saturday night show and who would have thought me, old Len Goodman, would still be part of this amazing series more than 10 years on. It is an honour being part of the wonderful Strictly Come Dancing.”

The 14th season will premiere on September 3, 2016.

Charlotte Moore, director of content at the BBC, said: “I know we are all going to miss him tremendously, but I also know Len’s final series is going to be full of unmissable moments and I hope audiences will give him the special send-off he so deserves”

It is not yet known whether he will continue to work on the US version of the show — Dancing with the Stars — which runs for two seasons each year.

Last August, he announced he would be leaving the US show, and was absent for the winter 2015 season, which was the 21^st season. However, he returned for the 22^nd season, which aired in spring 2016. In the American version, he has been a head judge since season one in 2005. He was also notably absent for a couple of episodes of season 19.

He became a household name soon after the Strictly Come Dancing’s debut in 2004, providing some much-needed balance between the comparatively grumpy Craig Revel Horwood and the excitable Bruno Tonioli.

Goodman’s lovable demeanour helped him remain a constant on the show while other dancers, judges and presenters such as Sir Bruce Forsyth, Alesha Dixon and Arlene Phillips departed.

A feature called Len’s Lens — where he would shine a spotlight on the detail of contestants’ dances — also became a public favourite.