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Derek Hough returns to 'Dancing with the Stars' as new judge while Len Goodman stays put in the UK

Len Goodman won't be able to judge the show live alongside Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. Joining them instead would be Derek Hough who has won the Mirrorball Trophy six times

On September 3, 'Dancing with the Stars' went into a tizzy as it was announced that the show's alum Derek Hough who was last seen participating in Season 23 was making a comeback on the show. The official Twitter handle of 'Good Morning America' put out a tweet that confirmed this. "TUESDAY: @derekhough is coming BACK to @DancingABC - but what will he be doing? TUNE IN TO @GMA TUESDAY TO FIND OUT! #DancingOnGMA #DWTS," read the tweet that was coupled with a montage of some of Hough's brightest moments from the show. 

A lot of fans dropped in their thoughts saying that they knew that Hough would be returning to the show, not as a professional dancer but as a judge who will replace Len Goodman who stays put in the UK due to the pandemic as well as his health condition. Turns out all that the fans guessed correctly as 'Good Morning America' confirmed that the two-time Emmy winner and nine-time Emmy nominee indeed would be joining Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba on the judge's table. 

Hough is known to have won the Mirrorball Trophy on the show more than any other pro-dancer. He bagged the winning title six times alongside celebrity contestants: Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Grey, Kellie Pickler, Amber Riley and Bindi Irwin. His last appearance was four years ago when he was paired up with Marilu Henner but he ended up placing sixth at that time. He is very excited to be back on the show after all this time and dishing about his comeback to the ballroom he said, “This show has been and will always be incredibly special to me. Coming back feels like coming home and I couldn’t be more excited to be back in the ballroom.”

Hough, Bruno, and Carrie would be joined by Goodman who will be virtually lending his expertise to the star-studded line-up of the show. The celebrity contestants on Season 29 include Carole Baskin, Nelly, AJ McLean, Monica Aldama, Jesse Metcalfe, Anne Heche, Johnny Weir, Vernon Davis, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Justina Machado, Charles Oakley, Jeannie Mai, Skai Jackson, Chrishell Stause, and Nev Schulman.

'Dancing with the Stars' Season 29 premieres at 8 pm ET on Monday, September 14, on ABC.