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‘Dancing with the Stars’ forced to sideline Len Goodman over coronavirus travel ban

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Len Goodman, a staple of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” will be sidelined as a judge for Season 29 — and the coronavirus pandemic is to blame.

ABC had originally announced that Goodman, along with judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, would all be returning for the new season.

However, due to travel bans imposed due to COVID-19 concerns, Goodman was unable to enter the U.S. from his home in England.

Goodman has been with the show since its debut, but did not appear Season 21.

Instead, ABC has turned to Derek Hough, a former coach on the show, as a judge. Hough appeared as a coach from Seasons 5 through 23 — but did not participate in Season 12 or 22.

He left the show in 2017, after Season 23, and later joined NBC’s “World of Dance” as a judge. Although both shows involve dancing, “World of Dance” does not include celebrities (at least in the same vein as “Dancing”) or use the same format where a pro dancer works with a single person to improve their dancing skills.

Goodman, meanwhile, will reportedly make remote appearances from England but won’t be a full judge.

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