Rumor Has It 'DWTS' Is Permanently Replacing Len Goodman With Derek Hough

From Good Housekeeping

• Dancing With the Stars executives are reportedly in talks about having Derek Hough take over for Len Goodman next year.

• The Sun reports that because Derek "knocked it out of the park" in season 29, he may have earned a permanent position alongside Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

• Len had to give up his judging seat in the latest season due to travel restrictions in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

• ABC has yet to renew Dancing With the Stars for season 30.

First, Dancing With the Stars fired Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews and made Tyra Banks an executive producer and the show's new solo host. Now, the show may be switching things up again, when it comes to judges Derek Hough and Len Goodman.

For season 29 this fall, Derek sat in Len's seat after the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult for the longtime judge, who is based in the U.K., to travel to the U.S. to film the show. Even still, producers gave Len the opportunity to make occasional virtual appearances and offer his expertise during the latest season.

While reports in September made it sound like the judge switch-up would only be temporary due to COVID-19, show "insiders" allegedly told The Sun recently that DWTS executives are now totally rethinking Len's involvement.

According to one Sun source, Len may not ever come back after Derek "knocked it out of the park" with his judging this past season. Sources also raved to the outlet that the former Dancing With the Stars pro "brought a fresh energy to the role and show and is hugely popular with his screen stars, contestants, and crew." Apparently, even fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba is game to make Derek a full-time panelist on the ABC dance show.

As for Len, a source told the British tabloid that while the 76-year-old judge "is a legend," the "times are different" now in light of the pandemic. Even with a possible COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon, show executives are reportedly concerned about Len's health and safety. (Just this past summer, Len had skin cancer removed from his forehead.)

Insiders also noted that Derek's work on season 29 "makes it almost impossible to not have him back."

Of course, ABC has not yet confirmed that the rumors published in The Sun are true. What's more, the network hasn't even announced that Dancing With the Stars will be renewed for a 30th season. Good Housekeeping has reached out for comment, but until we hear back, we're going to take everything with a grain of salt.

If the rumors do turn out to be true though, Derek would be following in the footsteps of his younger sister, Julianne Hough. In 2014, Julianne joined Dancing With the Stars as a permanent judge for three years alongside Len, Carrie Ann, and Bruno Tonioli.

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