'Strictly Come Dancing's Len Goodman may be replaced with two judges.

Len Goodman

Len Goodman

The 72-year-old ballroom dancer announced he was stepping down from his head judge position after the current series wraps up this month and, although it was highly speculated that Anton du Beke and Karen Hardy were in line to take his place, bosses are now considering hiring both of them to have a five-person panel in order to squash "fix" allegations.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Replacing Len is proving a real headache because he has such experience and is so well respected.

"Dancers like Anton and Karen might be good in the role - but they are inexperienced and might not battle to keep [fellow judges] Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood in check like Len does.

"However there is a feeling without Len's calming measured influence the panel might need a fifth judge to stop there being a deadlock and casting vote. It is an idea that has been discussed privately.

"The plan would be for Anton - or the other judge - to join the panel and the other judge to join for the results show to stop there being a need for a casting vote currently used by Len."

Len - who has featured on the show for the past 12 years - broke hearts across the country in September when he revealed he was walking away from the ballroom and latin show in order to focus on America's 'Dancing With the Stars', which is on around the same time, as he can no longer deal with dashing back and forth across the pond week-in week-out.

As well as Karen and Anton in line for the panel, current professional Brendan Cole, Australia's 'Dancing With The Stars' Helen Richey and former judge Arlene Phillips are also reportedly in talks to take over as the new head judge.

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