Showrunner Rob Wade says Len Goodman 'still might be involved in the season at some capacity' although he is no longer a permanent judge on 'Dancing with the Stars'.
- August 20, 2015
AceShowbiz -
Who is returning and who is not for the upcoming season 21 of "Dancing with the Stars" are announced. Len Goodman, who has been with the show for 10 years since the 2005 debut, is officially stepping down from the judge panel in the next installment.
"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 U.K. and the birth of his new grandson," showrunner Rob Wade said in statement. "He still might be involved in the season at some capacity, but we will have to wait and see."
Goodman's departure left the two remaining original judges, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, with Julianne Hough who started on the show as a pro dancer before returning as a new judge in season 19. "We are planning on having great guest judges for some shows to join Bruno, Carrie Ann and Julianne, and I'm sure we will see Len in the ballroom again soon," Wade added.
Meanwhile, some of the pro dancers returning to the show were revealed on "Good Morning America". They are Julianne's brother Derek Hough, Karina Smirnoff, Val Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas, Artem Chigvintsev, Allison Holker, Sharna Burgess, Peta Murgatroyd, and Witney Carson.
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @derekhough #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/agaRtMdui9
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @Karina_Smirnoff #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/6Lo2f1AV7z
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: Defending Champ @iamValC #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/E554hvTGhY
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @MarkBallas #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/T84Zy0si0Y
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @artemchigvintse #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/mwTD79w3gV
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @Allisonholker #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/UTjHsxV3Fa
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @SharnaBurgess #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/ye8k7BnQWo
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @PetaMurgatroyd #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/hoRnDSUlvU
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015
Season 21 @DancingABC Pro Dancer: @WitneyCarson #DWTS #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/b5qgyfxxDv
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 19, 2015"DWTS" will kick off the new season on September 14, at 8 P.M. ET on ABC. The celebrity contestants will be unveiled in the coming weeks and the pairings are expected to be announced September 2 on "GMA"
