Strictly Come Dancing head judge Len Goodman is to leave the show at the end of the upcoming series on BBC One.
The 72-year-old audience favourite has led the judging panel since Strictly began 12 years ago. He will be joined in his final series this autumn by returning judges Darcey Bussell, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli and presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Goodman will continue to present his shows on BBC Radio 2.
"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.
"It is an honour being part of the wonderful Strictly Come Dancing family and I'm looking forward to my last series very much and to whatever comes next."
Len Goodman with (l-r) fellow judges Darcey Bussell, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli
Goodman also served as a judge on the American version of the show, Dancing with the Stars. He announced he was leaving the US production in 2015 due to his Strictly workload and the birth of his grandchild. After one series away, he was back on the US judging panel alongside Strictly colleague Tonioli, Julianne Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba.
When Strictly returns to BBC One in the autumn there will be new professional dancers in the line-up following the departures of Gleb Savchenko, Aliona Vilani, Ola Jordan, Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus. Russian Katya Jones, Ukrainian champion Oksana Platero and Spanish professional Gorka Marquez have been signed up for the show.
They will join returning dancers Anton Du Beke, Brendan Cole, Kevin Clifton, Pasha Kovalev, Aljaz Skorjanec, Giovanni Pernice, Karen Clifton, Natalie Lowe, Joanne Clifton, Janette Manrara and Oti Mabuse.
