Len Goodman doesn't keep in touch with the 'Strictly Come Dancing' judges.

Len Goodman

Len Goodman

The 74-year-old professional dancer and former judge on the popular BBC show hasn't kept in contact with his former colleagues, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli, because he prefers to spend his free time with his family.

Len told Good Housekeeping magazine: "No, [I'm not in touch with the judges] - I'm a geezer!

"No, I don't meet up with them.

"I met up with Bruno because we were judges on the American version ['Dancing with the Stars'] but Craig lives in the wilds somewhere and Darcey has a family.

"And I'd rather be with my family. I'd rather be with my grandchildren. I'm just enjoying myself."

The dancer believes that current head judge Shirley Ballas - who succeeded his place on the panel in 2017 - has done "very well" in replacing him.

He mused: "If you take over from someone, you're always compared to them, to a degree, and I think she's done very well.

"She's been true to herself, she's not trying to be what she's not, and I think she's done a very good job."

While Len believes Ashley Roberts is the best dancer remaining in the competition, he predicts the public may sympathise with underdog Joe Sugg and vote for him to win the Glitterball Trophy this weekend.

He said: "I think Ashley can already dance quite a bit ... If you go to stage school, you may not be learning the waltz, but you do learn about movement and coordination and rhythm and timing, which will help in any form of dance. Any experience is good.

"Joe is probably - out of the four that is left - is probably the worst one, I don't know for sure, but I think people admire him. Some of them have climbed hills, he's probably climbed mountains."

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