Len Goodman says he was told viewers would not understand what he was talking about when he employed technical terms – now also used by Shirley Ballas – as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing.
Len, 73, stepped down from the BBC dancing show in 2016, having been on the judging panel since the programme’s 2004 launch.
The ex-head judge praised his replacement and her use of technical terms, such as “syncopated Cuban breaks” and “fifth position breaks”, which have confused some viewers.
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He told BBC Breakfast: “I started off full of double reverse spins and all that but then I was told, ‘Well, no-one knows what you’re talking about’.”
But he added: “They’re back in, good for them.”
Of Shirley, he said: “I think she’s done great. I really do. She’s her own self, she’s got good critiques.”
Len said he had faced the same criticism as the new head judge when making decisions in the dance-off.
An epic #Strictly Grand Final awaits… 👏 @alexandramusic @gorkamarquez1 @thedebbiemcgee @pernicegiovann1 @MissGAtkinson @AljazSkorjanec @mrjoemcfadden @Mrs_katjones pic.twitter.com/VJV3baHnkc
— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 10, 2017
“I remember I got terrible stick once. With the dance-off you have to just judge that dance.”
The Strictly 2017 final will feature Gemma Atkinson, Joe McFadden, Debbie McGee and Alexandra Burke.
Len said: “What’s great on Strictly is when you get a final and you really don’t know who’s going to win it”.
And he added: “What’s great, with the viewers, they appreciate those that have never danced before.”