Former Strictly Come Dancing legend Len Goodman has admitted he finds it hard to watch Shirley Ballas on the hit show.
Shirley replaced Len as Head Judge after he hung up his glittery score paddles in 2016 and he still struggles to see her sat in his seat.
In a new interview, 74-year-old Len has praised Shirley for her talents on Strictly but has likened his feelings of watching her on screen to a relationship break-up.
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Len, who was Head Judge on the show for 12 years, told The Mirror: “It’s a bit like splitting up with a girlfriend.
“It’s the right thing to do but then you see the girl with another geezer and you think, ‘That was my girl’.”
Len, who is a retired professional ballroom dancer, joined BBC’s Strictly when the show first launched in 2004.
He was handed the job of Head Judge from the offset and became a firm favourite with viewers.
But after 12 years sitting in the top seat, Len announced he was quitting the show in July 2016.
At the time, he said: “In 2004, I was asked to take part in a brand new BBC Saturday night show and who would have thought me, old Len Goodman, would still be part of this amazing series more than 10 years on.
“This adventure began when I was 60 and now that I’ve reached my 70s, I’ve decided after this year it’s time to hand the role of Head Judge to someone else.
“It is an honour being part of the wonderful Strictly Come Dancing family and I’m looking forward to my last series very much and to whatever comes next.”
After presiding over the judging panel for one final series, Len handed over the ropes to Shirley last year.
After accepting the job, the ballroom and Latin dancer gushed: “I am so excited and over the moon to have been given this wonderful opportunity.”
Although the official judging line-up is yet to be announced by the BBC, reports claim that Shirley will be returning has Head Judge this year.
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