'Strictly' judge is reluctant to be mean

Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman has admitted that he struggles to be nasty to the show's contestants.

The ballroom expert confirmed that he could never be as harsh as his fellow panel members Arlene Phillips and Craig Revel Horwood, who are known for their sharp put-downs on the series.

"Craig calls me Lenny Goody Goodman because I try to say something nice first on the programme, but I couldn't do it any other way," Goodman told the Daily Mail.

"I don't like being nasty just for the sake of it. OK, some of the contestants are rubbish, but I always say something like, 'you have very nice posture but unfortunately your hip work needs action', rather than 'Oh God, what a lump'."

Goodman also revealed that many of his critiques are left on paper rather than being aired for the public.

He said: "I have a little book where I write down things as they come to me. I have a section for nice things, and a section for horrible things. The horrible bit is much longer."