The Real Reason Len Goodman Is Quitting 'Dancing with the Stars' After Season 31

Len Goodman has been head judge of 'DWTS' since the show's inception.

On Monday night’s Dancing with the Stars semifinals, head judge Len Goodman announced to viewers that season 31 of the dance competition will be his final one.

The Real Reason Len Goodman Is Quitting Dancing with the Stars

“I'm looking forward to next week's finale,” the 78-year-old judge said. “It's also with a touch of sadness as this will be my last season judging on Dancing with the Stars. 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. But I’ve decided I'd like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family back in Britain. I cannot thank you enough, the Dancing with the Stars family. It's been such a wonderful experience and I'm looking so much to next week's finale. I'm sure it's going to be absolutely brilliant.”

Related: Who Will Win Dancing with the Stars Season 31? After Watching Every Episode, Here Are Our Predictions

What Val Chmerkovskiy will miss about having Len Goodman at the Judges Table

“I was very surprised by the news,” Val Chmerkovskiy told Parade after the show wrapped for the night. "No one knew. What am I going to miss? I’m going to miss the familiarity. I knew him before the show. He was an adjudicator at the British Open for many years before the show and then being part of Dancing with the Stars. He is such an important voice, an important authority. And the British accent makes every difference. I'm going to miss all of that. Hopefully, they'll have his spirit somehow still present. Maybe he could Skype in and do a little Len’s corner or Len’s recap because he’s going to be missed.”

How long has Len Goodman been a judge on Dancing with the Stars?

Len Goodman has been a part of the American version of Dancing with the Stars since the series premiered on ABC, judging more than 3,000 dances in the ballroom. He missed season 29 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and was replaced by Derek Hough at the judging table, but made video appearances explaining the different dance styles. He returned in season 30 to make it a four-person judging panel.

Len had previously missed Season 21, and was absent for much of season 19 and season 23 due to his responsibilities in the U.K., where he was judging Strictly Come Dancing (2004 to 2016).

How many years has Len Goodman been on Dancing with the Stars?

Len Goodman has been on Dancing with the Stars since the show premiered in 2005. That's 17 years (and 29 seasons) on the dance reality series. As previously mentioned, he missed seasons 21 and 29.

Who will replace Len Goodman on Dancing with the Stars?

We don't know yet. Since the next season of Dancing with the Stars won’t take place until the fall of 2023, the producers have time to decide whether or not to replace Len on the panel or stick with the three-person judging panel they have now: Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

Dancing with the Stars will return next Monday, Nov. 21 for the season 31 finale at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Disney+.

Next, DWTS Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Reveals Why This Season Is the Most Difficult To Judge