Strictly’s in danger of losing its British sparkle, warns Len

ITS dazzling costumes and plucky contestants have made Strictly Come Dancing a Saturday night fixture.

But former head judge Len Goodman, fears the show is in danger of losing its Britishness if it continues to employ professional dancers from abroad.

Earlier this week Anton Du Beke, 51, the Kent-born regular admitted his future is uncertain ahead of this year’s series.

Now Mr Goodman, 73, has warned producers the show will suffer if it keeps employing foreign pro dancers – and hopes they replace departing New Zealander Brendan Cole with a Brit. He told the Mail: ‘I think all those pros are brilliant but I do like that you’ve got Kevin from Grimsby, and Anton from up the road. You don’t want to end up with a load of people from... you know... as good as they are.... It’s nice to have some British dancers in there.’

During the most recent series of the ballroom contest, which was won by Holby City star Joe McFadden, only four of the 12 dancers were British: AJ Pritchard, Amy Dowden, Kevin Clifton and Du Beke.

The rest came from countries such as Australia, Slovenia, Venezuela and Russia.