Len Goodman won't be a 'Dancing' judge this fall

Dancing with the Stars will have to waltz without judge Len Goodman this fall.

Goodman, one of the original judges on the ABC dance hit (Sept. 14, 8 p.m. ET/PT), won't be able to participate because of his commitment to Strictly Come Dancing, a British TV dance competition, and his desire to spend time with his new grandson, executive producer Rob Wade says in a statement issued Wednesday.

"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 UK and the birth of his new grandson," Wade says.

Dancing also has confirmed Season 21 pro dancers, including Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Val Chmerkovskiy, Artem Chignitsev, Karina Smirnoff, Allison Holker, Sharna Burgess, Peta Murgatroyd, and Witney Carson.

The panel for Season 21 will include two original judges, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, along with a more recent arrival, Julianne Hough, and some guest judges. Wade says Goodman could make an appearance during the fall season.

"He still might be involved in the season at some capacity, but we will have to wait and see. 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," he says.

Goodman, 71, said in December that he would be leaving the show after the 20th season, which was last spring, but Wade said before the spring season that he didn't expect it would be Goodman's final one on the show. No announcement was made on Goodman's status for Dancing's spring edition.