The BBC has announced that Anton Du Beke will step up to the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel full time this year.
The 54-year-old - the only professional dancer to have been part of the show since the start - appeared as a judge for two weeks last year while Motsi Mabuse was quarantining.
This year Du Beke will become a regular judge alongside Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas as a replacement for Bruno Tonioli, who is remaining in the US to work on Dancing With The Stars instead.
"My loves I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be stepping into Bruno's brogues for the next series of Strictly," Du Beke said in a statement.
"It's a dream come true to be judging alongside the best of the best and I promise to be kinder to all the couples than any of them have ever been to me."
Tonioli said: "Whilst I am gutted to not be on the show this year there is one person and one person only that could take my place - it's just a shame they weren't available... haha! Darlings I'm kidding, I'm kidding!
"Seriously though, I have to tell you, Anton IS Mr Strictly and if anybody is filling in for me, it has to be him. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way and I am so excited to see him waggle his paddle."
The new series is expected to start on BBC One at the end of September.
Neil Wilkes
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