Len Goodman, the head judge of the hugely popular television show Strictly Come Dancing, recently announced the forthcoming Strictly series in 2016 will be his last one. The next series will begin at the beginning of September, ready for a Christmas finale, and there has already been much speculation as to who could step into Len's Strictly shoes and replace him.
Perhaps the most natural heir to the Strictly throne is fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood. His position on the show as the bad cop figure can be likened to Simon Cowell on The X Factor, in which he is not afraid to deliver the honest, and sometimes blunt, truth. This would then leave a different place on the panel free, perhaps easier to fill. Other Strictly faces which might also fit the bill are current professional dancer Anton de Beke and former professional dancer Karen Hardy. Du Beke has been a professional dancer on Strictly since the show began in 2004 and this transition to the panel may well suit him, although perhaps not the other pros.
From Strictly gone by, Hardy won the show in 2006, and has since appeared on the spin-off show, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. She left Strictly in 2009, however became a regular guest in 2011 with her "choreography corner" feature. Another face no longer gracing Strictly screens is Arlene Phillips, who sat alongside Goodman on the judging panel when Strictly began. She was replaced by Alesha Dixon in 2009, which became a controversial decision in a debate about ageism in the television industry. The former dancer turned choreographer went on to become a judge on the UK version of So You Think You Can Dance, so it is likely she has moved in completely from Strictly.
Whilst there will no doubt be lots of further speculation about the judge stepping into Len's shoes next year, it is clear there are many contenders!
Stepping into Strictly shoes
Len Goodman, the head judge of the hugely popular television show Strictly Come Dancing, recently announced the forthcoming Strictly series in 2016 will be his last one. The next series will begin at the beginning of September, ready for a Christmas finale, and there has already been much speculation as to who could step into Len's Strictly shoes and replace him.
Perhaps the most natural heir to the Strictly throne is fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood. His position on the show as the bad cop figure can be likened to Simon Cowell on The X Factor, in which he is not afraid to deliver the honest, and sometimes blunt, truth. This would then leave a different place on the panel free, perhaps easier to fill. Other Strictly faces which might also fit the bill are current professional dancer Anton de Beke and former professional dancer Karen Hardy. Du Beke has been a professional dancer on Strictly since the show began in 2004 and this transition to the panel may well suit him, although perhaps not the other pros.
From Strictly gone by, Hardy won the show in 2006, and has since appeared on the spin-off show, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. She left Strictly in 2009, however became a regular guest in 2011 with her "choreography corner" feature. Another face no longer gracing Strictly screens is Arlene Phillips, who sat alongside Goodman on the judging panel when Strictly began. She was replaced by Alesha Dixon in 2009, which became a controversial decision in a debate about ageism in the television industry. The former dancer turned choreographer went on to become a judge on the UK version of So You Think You Can Dance, so it is likely she has moved in completely from Strictly.
Whilst there will no doubt be lots of further speculation about the judge stepping into Len's shoes next year, it is clear there are many contenders!