"Dancing with the Stars" is losing a longtime judge.
Len Goodman announced his plans to leave his post as a judge on the ABC reality dancing competition series after this upcoming 20th season in the spring, according to E! Online.
Goodman, who is also a judge on the UK's "Strictly Come Dancing" series, explained his reason behind leaving the hit show during an interview with Digital Spy.
"Next year, I'm not going to do the flying backwards and forwards - I'm not going to do the American show... I've got to have a bit of time off," Goodman explained. "I've got my wife, I've got my son, my mother is still alive and she's in hospital - I've had virtually no time to go and visit her."
"So, I just need a bit of time off to get on with a normal life. And it was either Strictly went or the American one went or the tour went... I'm doing the spring one when I go out there... and that's going to be my last one."
The 70-year-old dance expert insisted that he would not be leaving "Strictly Come Dancing" any time soon, adding that he feels "a loyalty towards the BBC" program for helping launch his career, especially in America.
"Listen, let me tell you that without Strictly coming along 10 years ago when I was 60 years old - without them coming along and asking me to be one of the judges, I would never have done anything," he said.
"I'd never have done the American show, I'd never do other little things that I've done... I will do Strictly as long as they want me. Eventually, they will say, 'He's getting too old and fat now, Goodman, we'll have to get shot of him'. But all the time they would like me to do it, I will be doing it."
Goodman has been seated between fellow judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli since the show began in 2005. Last season, former "DWTS" champion, Julianne Hough, was added to the judging panel.
"I'd imagine Bruno will still do it. But he's ten years younger than me," Goodman joked.
Are you sad to see Goodman leave "DWTS?"
