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sash71 t1_iwgxa1u wrote

He only quit doing the British version (Strictly Come Dancing) about 5 years ago. He used to do both versions, making weekly transatlantic flights from London to LA and then back again. Even when you're travelling in first class that must be very tiring. Trying to adjust to time zones constantly for the last 3 or 4 months of the year must have been really difficult for him, I'm surprised he kept going for that many years.

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redsyrinx2112 t1_iwh13wi wrote

Damn, I knew he did both shows, but I always thought Strictly aired in the offseason of Dancing With the Stars. That's an insane schedule to keep.

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sash71 t1_iwh6q22 wrote

No they are both on at the same time. Strictly starts in September on the BBC.

I noticed when I was over in the States in September 2009 and my mum (who lived in Oregon) insisted on watching DWTS. I saw Len was a judge and I was surprised because I knew he did the British show.

He's 78 now but he only stopped doing both at 73. That's a really busy schedule for a young man, let alone a man of Len's age. I think it's quite the achievement for him, being able to do those shows to the standard he did. He never appeared tired and was always his usual happy self.

He deserves a break now. He's done what he wanted to do, get ballroom dancing back on prime time tv.

The show 'Come Dancing' had run for decades on the BBC but it got taken off just before the millenium. In 2004 it had a makeover, added celebrities and got a new name 'Strictly Come Dancing'. It's never looked back since. Len is a big part of why it was so successful, you can't hear the number "seven" without thinking of him now.

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Tonedeafmusical t1_iwh93ax wrote

Bruno, only initially dropped Strictly because of Covid. He's now dropped it completely because how much the flights were taking out of him.

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sash71 t1_iwhenv1 wrote

I'd forgotten about Bruno doing the same thing as well but I'm not surprised at all that he had enough too. It must have been so difficult with the time zones and travelling. I know they get the best air travel and are extremely well paid but even with that, it will take its toll ln you eventually.

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StephenHunterUK t1_iwmthq6 wrote

The movie edition of the current British run had the song "We Don't Talk About Bruno" turn up. They ended up making clear that they do still talk about Bruno.

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StephenHunterUK t1_iwmtun2 wrote

Back in the Concorde days, you could do that in three and a half hours - and arrive "before" you left. Phil Collins was able to play both the London and Philadelphia concerts at Live Aid because of it.

If the various new supersonic projects get off the ground, that might well be doable again.

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