Len Goodman leaving 'Dancing With the Stars'

BY VARIETY

After 20 seasons as a judge on "Dancing With the Stars," Len Goodman will quickstep away as a permanent part of the ABC competition series to concentrate on his responsibilities across the pond and spend more time with his family.

"Len will not be returning as a judge this season on 'Dancing with the Stars' due to his schedule as a judge on 'Strictly Come Dancing' in the UK and the birth of his new grandson," said "Dancing With the Stars" exec producer Rob Wade in an official statement. "He still might be involved in the season at some capacity, but we will have to wait and see. We are planning on having great guest judges for some shows to join Bruno (Tonioli), Carrie Ann (Inaba) and Julianne (Hough), and I'm sure we will see Len in the ballroom again soon."

The guest judges filling Goodman's shoes have yet to be named.

Goodman has been a judge on "Strictly Come Dancing," the UK version of "Dancing With the Stars" since it first aired in 2004.

The news should not come as a huge shock to fans, since talk of Goodman's departure has been circulating since 2014. Still, in January a source close to the show shut down those rumors, telling Variety that he would stay for season 20.

"Dancing With the Stars" returns Sept. 14 on ABC.