It sounds fairly close to him saying '...f**kin' but quietly!

Agreed. What a tempest in a teapot. Political correctness run amok. Better to just move along. Very few watching on telly are paying close enough attention to the judges to realize what he almost said (I certainly didn't). The producers drew attention to what most people didn't notice by having Zoe issue that silly apology.

I wouldn't have noticed if the producer hadn't told Zoe to apologise. Bit pointless drawing attention to it like that Knee jerk reaction from the gallery

Interestingly, at the time I was convinced he'd used the F word so wasn't surprised by the apology. Looking at that link video it does sound like fudge but that's on a few hearings. Guess the beeb is just heading off complaints by an early apology - as always they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

He said nothing. We played it back several times and there was nothing for an over sensitive BBC to apologise for. I hope Len issues a statement to that effect.

I didn't hear a thing on the night and was baffled when Zoe apologised for Len swearing. Apparently he said the F word though, and typically the over-reactionary brigade with nothing better to worry about have called for him to quit. WTF!

Your over-reactionary brigade might just hate the f word and its constant use these days. It's not a thing he should be called to quit for, but he should be told to stop it. Personally I am sick of hearing people use the f word. It must be the most common adjective in general use today, in every sense of the word. Sorry, but that's how I and many others feel about it. Some young people seem to use it every third or fourth word they utter!

He will be rebuked for it but it wasn't deliberate, it just slipped out as has happened before a number of times on live TV, Bruno has said some dodgy things when he got carried away. I'm sure it wont happen again.

When I mentioned the over-reactionary brigade it was the calls for Len to quit I was talking about not the use of the F word, which is unacceptable on a family show, even if hardly anybody heard it on this occasion.

I thought he said F Me...... Saying how fantastic the dance was!!! Not having a go at Bruno. I must admit I find Bruno's ghastly flirting with the male dancers/contestants and rabbiting on and on about sex and the fact he is gay, more irritating!! Yes Bruno we all know you are gay! Thank you.

I'd say that he did say the f word - hence being a little uneasy and embarrassed at times for the rest of the show

This is bound to be blown out of all proportion just like the Jeremy Clarkson eeny-meeny-miney-mo, catch a "cough cough" (alleged use of N word) by the toe scandal.

I can honestly say I didn't notice.

I didn't either, but if he did say it, on a family show, then he will have to be reprimanded.

It's a little bit clearer on the youtube clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXSZ7_K1o68

Have the BBC not learnt anything why do they let Len sit next too Bruno, Bruno clearly annoys Len with his antics so basically he will boil over sooner or later. And i dont think it helps that you have presenters like Tess Daly who just seems to be so plain. I seriously think she needs to be sent packing and Zoe Ball too they are just a little bit OTT for the programme. Whilst people may have wished Brucie to go at least he kept the programme in some working order. And as for Judie Murray is she not the most annoying person on TV gringeworthy indeed.

When watching it live we thought he said a naughty word but then we watched it our recording back several times and he definitely said fudge.

The bbc still have apologised though and put an article on their website, I suppose if they also thought he said it its best to!

I take it that was joke.

Not a fan then?

It sounds like 'fudge' to me, too. Amazingly, there are now two threads devoted to something Len apparently never said.

fudge was what Len said

I don't see any reason why he should apologise for saying the word fudge - he didn't swear - unless fudge is now a swear word

huge mountain being made out of a molehill IMO

I dont see what the huge issue is

Mountain out of a molehill in my opinion - I didn't even realise anything had been said - when Zoe made the apology I couldn't work out what for...

If they hadn't drawn attention to it then I suspect nobody would even have noticed with all the hyper activity of Blackpool week.