Story highlights
Len Goodman has been head judge for 'DWTS' since it started
Goodman's transatlantic schedule has been tiring
Len Goodman is shuffling off the dance floor – in the United States, anyway.
Goodman, the longtime head judge of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” will not be returning to the show this fall, producer Rob Wade said in a statement.
“Len will not be returning as a judge this season on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ due to his schedule as a judge on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in the UK and the birth of his new grandson,” Wade said. “He still might be involved in the season at some capacity, but we will have to wait and see. We are planning on having great guest judges for some shows to join Bruno (Tonioli), Carrie Ann (Inaba) and Julianne (Hough), and I’m sure we will see Len in the ballroom again soon.”
The news wasn’t a surprise to “DWTS” fans. Goodman said in December that the 20th season of the show would probably be his last.
“I just need a bit of time off to get on with a normal life,” he said then. “And it was either ‘Strictly’ went or the American one went or the tour went.”
The show will begin its 21st season on September 14.
CNN’s Sonya Hamasaki contributed to this story.