The final six celebrity dancers and their pro partners performed Monday night for a spot in next week’s finale. In the meantime, judge Len Goodman made a huge announcement. The longtime member of the DWTS family is retiring after next week’s finale. (Read our Recap)
“This will be my last season judging on Dancing with the Stars”
“Whilst we’re all getting excited and looking forward so much to the finale next week, it would also be with a touch of sadness, as this will be my last season judging on Dancing with the Stars,” Len said in a break between two rounds of dances. At that, the crowd burst in sounds of dismay. “I’ve been with the show since it started in 2005 and it has been a huge pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful show.”
Len first became a judge on the original DWTS, the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing, starting in 2004 through to 2016, when flying back and forth between the US and the UK during the week became too much. Len took a break from Dancing in the Stars in Season 21, citing family commitments and scheduling issues. Also, the Covid-19 pandemic sidelined him for season 29.
Len explained during his announcement that he’d “like to spend more time with the grandchildren and my family back in Britain.”
He ended his surprising announcement, “I cannot thank you enough, the Dancing with the Stars family. It’s been such a wonderful experience for me. I’m looking forward so much to next week’s finale. I’m sure it’s going to be absolutely brilliant.”
“A legend” and an “inspiration”
With the ballroom audience on their feet giving Len a huge round of applause and a standing ovation, fellow judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli stood up to give Len big hugs. “A living legend,” host Tyra Banks called him. She also noted that many pros “grew up watching Len on this show.” Also, some of the pros were judged by Len in competitions when they were “just kids.” She added, “You inspired generations of dancers around the entire globe.”
Dancing with the Stars included one more big announcement. Witney Carson, partnered with Wayne Brady, is expecting her second child with husband Carson McAllister. The couple are expecting a song in May. But first, Witney and Wayne are headed to next week’s finale.
Watch Len’s emotional announcement below.
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