From a casting point of view Anton would be the obvious replacement. He's exactly the same archetype as Len - old, male, traditionalist, doesn't like forrin nonsense or Political Correctness Gone Mad much, doesn't really "do" Latin, or any of that contempowaft nonsense, wears pyjamas and a nightcap to bed, naff sense of humour etc etc. The issue is that he's a pretty poor host and any time he's been asked to judge anything else before he's come across as pretty inarticulate and stilted. Most of his "witticisms" on Strictly are funny noises and silly faces and awkward gestures - he's not really one for full sentences. You'd have to get him a pretty good scriptwriter, probably better than Len's.
My preference out of the former pros would be for Karen Hardy because the woman can talk and has built up an appropriate amount of gravitas in terms of opinion with the viewers. I think there are others who could give it a good go but not many. I can't speak as to outside ballroom figures, although I think it definitely should be someone with a solid "ballroom and latin" resume.
Len himself I've liked more as the years have gone on, although he was never going to be my favourite judge. I think the personality balance of the panel shifted when Arlene left, and was replaced by first Alesha and then Darcey - female judges who could back the male contestants over the female ones without constantly sounding like they wanted to bork them. I think this freed Len up to be less "BLOKEY BLOKES SPORTSMEN WORRRGH DANCING'S FOR REAL MEN" and hence more bearable. His judging's been poor for at least a couple of series though - just non stop streams of YOU DUN YER BEST, ham-fisted innuendo, and attempts to make every comment somehow relate to the title of whatever song it was that was just danced to before giving one of the four scores he gives out (fewer in the earlier weeks).
My preference out of the former pros would be for Karen Hardy because the woman can talk and has built up an appropriate amount of gravitas in terms of opinion with the viewers. I think there are others who could give it a good go but not many. I can't speak as to outside ballroom figures, although I think it definitely should be someone with a solid "ballroom and latin" resume.
Len himself I've liked more as the years have gone on, although he was never going to be my favourite judge. I think the personality balance of the panel shifted when Arlene left, and was replaced by first Alesha and then Darcey - female judges who could back the male contestants over the female ones without constantly sounding like they wanted to bork them. I think this freed Len up to be less "BLOKEY BLOKES SPORTSMEN WORRRGH DANCING'S FOR REAL MEN" and hence more bearable. His judging's been poor for at least a couple of series though - just non stop streams of YOU DUN YER BEST, ham-fisted innuendo, and attempts to make every comment somehow relate to the title of whatever song it was that was just danced to before giving one of the four scores he gives out (fewer in the earlier weeks).
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, So happy, Len is leaving. I think Karen Hardy will be very good, but I suspect he will make sure his best buddy Anton, replaces him. People underestimate
