Len Goodman's fear of dying and not spending time with his family prompted his decision to quit 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Len Goodman
The 72-year-old professional ballroom dancer and head judge on the popular BBC programme has admitted although he may have a few more years left in him to critique dance routines, the fact he is ageing and his parents died aged 79 has made him want to enjoy "more time" with his granddaughter, instead of working, before he pops his clogs.
Speaking to The Sun Online, Len - who has been a part of the show for 12 years since it first aired in 2004 - said: "Maybe I have got one or two years left in me being a judge, but it's the right time and I've had a wonderful 12 years.
"My father died when he was 79 and I'm 72. God willing I'll live to be 99, but there's always that chance that in six or seven years I could be brown bread.
"So I want to spend more time with my family as I've now got a granddaughter. I want to be able to do all these things."
However, Len has admitted he never thought he would get the call to join the panel and lied to his friends he was asked to appear in the series when he wasn't.
He explained: "In the end so many friends asked me if I had been for an audition I just lied and said, 'Yeah, but I don't want to do it'.
"They were struggling for a fourth judge and I luckily got the call very late for an audition."
Although Len has revealed he feels it is the right time in his life to leave the show, he thinks he'll "probably regret" quitting and will be struck down with deep feelings of nostalgia when the programme returns next year.
Speaking previously, he said: "What I'm gonna miss is turning up at the studio and [having] the expectation of what's going to happen.
"I bet when next year comes around I'll be sitting in doors and thinking, 'I was daft'. It's the right time."
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