'Strictly' judge predicts success for Castle

Rex Features

Len Goodman has tipped GMTV host Andrew Castle to go far on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

The show's judge claimed that Castle would be far more impressive than his colleagues Fiona Phillips and Kate Garraway, who both faced weekly criticism from the panel during their own Strictly stints.

"He's going to be the one that breaks the mould of the GMTV voodoo," Goodman told the News of the World. "We've had Fiona Phillips and Kate Garraway, now we've got him. He could be quite a good dancer. He's good-looking and a lot of people know him."

However, Goodman was less optimistic about the chances of TV chef Gary Rhodes, who has been paired up with professional dancer Karen Hardy.

"I love Karen dearly but I don't think he'll shape up at all," Len explained. "He's got nothing going for him, being a chef. He hasn't got the actor's background, sports person's background, pop singer's background. I can't see him lasting long."

Strictly continues tonight at 8.00pm on BBC One.